Outbreak of leptospirosis in New Caledonia: diagnosis issues and burden of disease

Trop Med Int Health. 2009 Aug;14(8):926-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02310.x. Epub 2009 Jun 22.

Abstract

A leptospirosis epidemic affected New Caledonia during the first semester of 2008. A total of 135 cases were diagnosed with a relatively low fatality rate of 3.7%. Heavy rainfalls, related to La Niña, favoured this epidemic. The PCR, routinely used, confirmed 54% of the cases, and the microagglutination test 56%. Epidemiological and economical data on this epidemic are presented and discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic / microbiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks* / economics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Leptospira / classification
  • Leptospirosis / diagnosis*
  • Leptospirosis / economics
  • Leptospirosis / epidemiology
  • Leptospirosis / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New Caledonia / epidemiology
  • Rain
  • Seasons
  • Young Adult