i
Leptospirosis in “Eco-Challenge” Athletes, Malaysian Borneo, 2000
-
Jun 2003
-
-
Source: Emerg Infect Dis. 9(6):702-707.
Details:
-
Alternative Title:Emerg Infect Dis
-
Personal Author:
-
Corporate Authors:
-
Description:Adventure travel is becoming more popular, increasing the likelihood of contact with unusual pathogens. We investigated an outbreak of leptospirosis in "Eco-Challenge" multisport race athletes to determine illness etiology and implement public health measures. Of 304 athletes, we contacted 189 (62%) from the United States and 26 other countries. Eighty (42%) athletes met our case definition. Twenty-nine (36%) case-patients were hospitalized; none died. Logistic regression showed swimming in the Segama River (relative risk [RR]=2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.3 to 3.1) to be an independent risk factor. Twenty-six (68%) of 38 case-patients tested positive for leptospiral antibodies. Taking doxycycline before or during the race was protective (RR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2 to 1.2) for the 20 athletes who reported using it. Increased adventure travel may lead to more frequent exposure to leptospires, and preexposure chemoprophylaxis for leptospirosis (200 mg oral doxycycline/week) may decrease illness risk. Efforts are needed to inform adventure travel participants of unique infections such as leptospirosis.
-
Subjects:
-
Source:
-
Document Type:
-
Place as Subject:
-
Location:
-
Collection(s):
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type: