Re-emerging zoonotic disease Leptospirosis in Tanzania amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: needs attention - correspondence

Abstract

Dear Editor, Although leptospirosis outbreak is rare, it is not unexpected in the United Republic of Tanzania (URT). Recently, the URT reported 20 leptospirosis cases, including three deaths as on August 8, 2022 [1]. 15 out of the 20 cases were laboratory-confirmed, and the majority of the cases were 18–77 years old men. As many were agriculturally active farmers, occupational exposure seems to be the source of infection. Although new or missed cases are being investigated and identified, no new cases have been reported for more than a month since July 15, 2022. The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the URT notified WHO about the reported leptospirosis cases. Leptospirosis is turning as a worldwide public health threat due to climate and environmental conditions. Human subjects who were tested negative for Influenza, Chikungunya, Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease, West Nile virus, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, and Rift Valley fever were subsequently tested leptospirosis positive and exhibited symptoms of bleeding from nose, headache, fever and general body-ache.

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2022.106984

Repository URI

https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/83432/