Welcome to the Leptospirosis Outbreak Toolbox

Key reference documents

Human leptospirosis: Guidance for diagnosis, surveillance and control (Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003).
Leptospirosis information page (Washington (DC): Pan American Health Organization).
Leptospirosis fact sheet (New Delhi: WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia).

Case definitions

WHO suggested outbreak case definition

Suspected case:

evocative epidemiological context;¹ and
clinical signs and symptoms consistent with leptospirosis: abrupt onset of fever, chills, conjunctival suffusion, headache, myalgia, jaundice, cardiac or renal failure, and pulmonary haemorrhage.

Probable case:

suspected case and the presence of Leptospira immunoglobulins type M (IgM) in one serum sample detected by serology (e.g. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)).

Confirmed case:

a suspected case confirmed by laboratory test as follows:
- seroconversion or a four-fold or higher rise in titre detected by serological techniques (e.g. microscope agglutination technique (MAT)² or IgM ELISA) in consecutive serum samples; or
- detection of Leptospira DNA from a clinical specimen by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); or
- demonstration of Leptospira spp. in tissue.

WHO surveillance case definition

Human leptospirosis: Guidance for diagnosis, surveillance and control (Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003).

_1._{e.g. Cyclone and/or flooding, exposure events such as adventure sports.}

_{2. Sampling: Two consecutive samples of 3 ml of blood or serum in a regular sterile tube. First sample 10–12 days after onset of symptoms; second sample (control) 10 days after the first sample.}

Data collection tools

Case investigation form: PDF | Word
Line list: Not available.
Electronic tools: Not available.

Laboratory confirmation

Human leptospirosis: Guidance for diagnosis, surveillance and control (Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003 (pp. 9–16)).

Response tools and resources

Global leptospirosis environmental action network (GLEAN).
Managing epidemics: key facts about major deadly diseases (Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018).

Training

Leptospirosis: Introduction (online course; 2017).