Do not swim in the lake or river in Southeast Asia

Urgent Health Warning: Do not swim in lakes and rivers in Southeast Asia.

(27.08.2010) The Center for Travel Medicine (CRM) is currently warning against swimming in rivers and lakes in the countries of South-East Asia. Numerous cases of leptospirosis have been reported from the areas. Leptospirosis is a dangerous infectious disease caused by bacterial pathogens. If the disease or secondary diseases develop a severe course, the liver and kidneys can fail, which in turn leads to death.
The pathogens of the disease cavort especially in waters such as rivers and lakes. Infection occurs through open wounds on the skin. Even mosquito bites can be enough to pave the way for the leptospirosis pathogen. The travel center reports that several people have died of the disease in Malaysia, and two tourists have already become infected in Laos.

Travelers returning from vacation who complain of flu-like symptoms such as fever and body aches should consult a doctor. This is true even if it has already passed several weeks after returning from vacation. Because the incubation period of leptospirosis can be very different. In some cases, the disease may appear after a few days after infection, in other cases only after a few weeks.

The CRM advises backpackers in particular to seek advice from a travel medicine specialist or qualified pharmacist before traveling to Southeast Asia. The symptoms are similar to flu, patients complain of fever, muscle and joint pain. Very severe forms can be found in the case of Morbus Weil, here liver and kidneys can completely fail. The disease can then lead to death. Conjunctivitis as a result can last up to 4 weeks. Other complications of leptospirosis include meningitis, jaundice, and liver function disorders. A disease is usually treated with penicillin, which is effective only until 5 days after onset of the disease.

In Germany, around 170 people suffer from leptospirosis each year. Thus, the disease is very rare in our latitudes and was introduced mostly from Far Eastern countries. (Sb)

Picture: Rosel Eckstein