WRRC Seminar - Leptospirosis in Hawaii, 1999-2008

by Alan Katz, MD, MPH, Professor and Graduate Chair, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawaii

Although infrequently diagnosed in the United States, leptospirosis is a notable reemerging infectious disease throughout developing countries. Until 1995, when leptospirosis was eliminated from the CDC’s list of nationally notifiable diseases, Hawaii led the nation in reported annual incidence rates. Leptospirosis remains a notifiable disease in Hawaii. To ascertain the current status of leptospirosis in Hawaii, Hawaii State Department of Health (HDOH) surveillance data from 1999-2008 were reviewed and compared with an earlier 25-year HDOH data set (1974-1998). A total of 356 leptospirosis case reports were received by HDOH from 1999-2008. Of the 345 case reports related to in-state exposures, 198 (57%) were laboratory confirmed. Notable findings for laboratory-confirmed cases with in-state exposures include a change in seasonal disease occurrence from summer to winter and in the predominant infecting serogroup from Icterohemorrhagiae to Australis. Also, during the past 20 years, recreational exposures have plateaued, while occupational exposures have increased. Ongoing surveillance is needed to clarify and track the dynamic epidemiology of this widespread zoonosis.

Event Sponsor
Water Resources Research Center, Mānoa Campus

More Information
philip moravcik, 956-3097, morav@hawaii.edu, http://www.wrrc.hawaii.edu/seminars.php

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