Professions Susceptible To Weil's Disease

Which Professions and Activities Are Linked to Weil’s Disease?

Weil’s Disease is caused by the Leptospira bacteria which can be spread by animals including:

• Rats
• Mice
• Moles
• Cattle
• Pigs
• Sheep
• Dogs
• Deer
• Hedgehogs
• Shrews
• Rabbits

As a result, anyone whose profession involves them being exposed to these animals and their waste products and bodily fluids can increase the risk of them developing the disease.

Veterinarians, zoo keepers, animal trainers, pet shop workers, farmers, butchers, abattoir workers and even taxidermists all must be extra vigilant, and those who work in those types of job must be provided with suitable personal protective equipment and training on how to minimise risk and spot early signs of infection.

The bacteria can survive in soil for long periods of time, and so anyone who is involved in construction, demolition, restoration of old buildings, horticulture and agriculture should be aware of the potential dangers posed by infection; for example working on a premises that has been, or is infested by rodents. Pest-control workers themselves are at an increased risk due to the nature of their job exterminating the creatures that pass on the bacteria in the first place.

Soldiers and military operatives can be deployed in a huge range of different environments all over the globe, and so they should be trained to how to identify the risks and take suitable precautions whilst using appropriate protection.

Mines can be desirable locations for rodents, and the combination of stagnant water and potentially contaminated soil, within a confined environment can make mining a high-risk profession for the development of the disease.

The bacteria’s ability to survive in stagnant or slow-moving water causes a huge risk for anyone who works in the sewerage treatment business, river and water-course management, and even salvage workers or professional divers. Anglers and boat enthusiasts – both in terms of sailing on lakes or travelling by longboat on a canal, along with kayakers and canoeists, rowers and freshwater swimmers should all be aware of the potential for danger in these situations, as should the emergency services when called out to help in cases of flooding.

While in some cases the risk of catching the infection occurs as part of leisure activity, those who work in that industry such as instructors, trainers and supervisors should all be suitably trained in how to reduce risk of contamination.

In all of these cases, an awareness of the disease and its potential outcomes can make a big difference to the way people behave in these environments and thus reduce the risk of infection.

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