A cluster of leptospirosis cases in canoeists following a competition on the River Liffey

Abstract

On 6 November 2001, a possible case of leptospirosis was notified in a canoeist following a white-water event on the River Liffey. It emerged that a second race participant was also a possible case. An outbreak control team coordinated the epidemiological investigation, laboratory investigation, environmental assessment, communication and control measures. A cluster of six laboratory-confirmed cases of leptospirosis, serologically Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae was found. The attack rate was 9.2% (6/65). Fever, chills, red eyes and shortness of breath were significantly associated with being a confirmed case. Five cases were hospitalized. Swallowing more than one mouthful of water was associated with an increased risk of developing leptospirosis. Increased rainfall and release of hydroelectric water may have contributed to this outbreak. A multidisciplinary approach and use of the Internet and e-mail facilitated rapid and effective communication.

Injuries, Ill-Health and Fatalities in White Water Rafting and White Water Paddling

“…Various methods of data collection were reported. Surveys were used in seven studies [10,[12][13][14][16][17][18], provider records were used in three studies [19][20][21], hospital discharge data were used in a further two studies [22,23], and observation [11], telephone interview [15], tourist compensation claim data [24] and kinematic data [25] were identified in single articles. Samples ranged between 54 and 473 participants of which between 53.5% and 89% were male.…”

“…A total of three papers were identified directly examining ill health in WW paddlers [13][14][15]. Of these, two papers examined acute illness induced by ingesting contaminated water [14,15].…”

“…Frequent users of the WW facility reported fewer cases of illness than infrequent users. Boland et al [15] explored an outbreak of leptospirosis following a canoeing competition in Ireland. They conducted telephone interviews with 62 of the competitors and a total of 18 participants reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness following the competition; of these, six cases of leptospirosis were identified.…”

“…Overuse injuries that occur for prolonged periods of time can lead to more permanent issues [12]. In addition to injuries and fatalities, acute and chronic illnesses are also associated with WW activities, such as external auditory canal exostoses (EACE; also known as surfer's ear) [13] and gastrointestinal illnesses [14,15].…”

Infectious diseases in the aftermath of monsoon flooding in Pakistan

“…Human infection results from contact with carrier animals or their environment. Additionally, contact with contaminated water bodies is a potential cause of acquiring this condition [19] . Drainage material contaminated with rodent urine may also collect on roads after floods.…”