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Virus Close-Up Illustration

Leptospirosis
Disease and Symptoms

  • It is a bacterial disease commonly carried by animals.

  • Leptospirosis is most common in tropical climates where the bacteria survives in the warmth.

  • Pigs, dogs, and rats are the main carriers of Leptospirosis in American Samoa

  • Domestic animals (pets) can spread the disease to humans and other animals.

  • The bacteria are found in animals' urine.

  • Leptospira bacteria can live long in fresh water and wet soil where the animal urinates (pees).

  • Bacteria enter the body through the eyes, nose, mouth, and broken skin (cuts and sores).

  • People do not usually transmit Leptospirosis to each other.

Symptoms

People generally become sick 2 to 20 days after contact with the bacteria. Illness usually begins suddenly with a high fever and other symptoms. If left untreated, symptoms can become very serious and cause damage to the kidneys, heart, and liver. In some cases, Leptospirosis can cause death.

  • Severe headache​​

  • Muscle aches, especially in the legs and lower back

  • ​Red, bloodshot eyes​

  • Sweating

  • Weakness

  • Diarrhea

  • Eye pain and sensitivity to light

  • Stiff neck

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When to see the doctor

  • If you think you have symptoms of leptospirosis, see a doctor right away.​

  • Tell the doctor of any recent contact with animals or freshwater that may have been contaminated.

  • Ask your doctor for a leptospirosis test.

  • Antibiotic treatment can help if the disease is caught early.

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Leptospirosis Spreads from Animal to Human

  • Urine from infected animals is released into the soil or fresh water.

  • Humans come in contact with soil or fresh water that has the animal urine.

  • The bacteria enter the nose, mouth, eyes, open cuts, or wounds. 

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • No desire to eat

  • Chills

  • Stomach pain

  • Less frequent urination (peeing)

  • Tea-colored urine

  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

Leposipairosi
O le Fa'ama'i ma ona 'Auga

  • O se fa'ama'i e mafua i siama o lo'o fe'avea'ina e nisi o meaola.

  • O le Leposipairosi e masani ona maua i atunu'u e taumafanafana toe susu i le tele o aso o le tausaga, ona e tupuolaola lenei siama i tau mafanafana.

  • O meaola fa'apitoa e fe'avea'ina le Leposipairosi i Amerika Samoa o mea'itua'olo, ta'ifau, ma iole.

  • E mafai ona pepesi tagata i lenei fa'ama'i e ala mai fagafao, e mafai foi ona pepesi i meaola ma isi meaola.

  • O le siama e mafua ai le Leposipairosi e maua i fe'au-vai o mea'itua'olo, taifa'u, ma iole.

  • O le igoa o le siama e mafua mai ai lenei fa'ama'i o le Leptospira, ma e mafai ona ola umi lenei siama i vaiauli fa'apea ma ele'ele ua susu, pe afai ua fa'aleagaina e fe'au-vai o meaola e pei ona ta'ua. 

  • E ulu le siama i totonu o lou tino e ala i ou mata, lou isu, gutu, po'o ni manu'a/lavea oi lou tino.

  • E le pepesi lenei fa'ama'i mai le tagata aga'i le isi tagata.

'Auga o le Leposipairosi

A afaina se tasi i le siama, e 2 aga'i le 20 aso ona amata lagona lea o tulaga fa'alemanuia o le fa'ama'i. E amata i se fiva maualuga, atoa ai ma nisi o 'auga e pei ona ta'ua. A le vave togafiti, e ono mata'utia le fa'ama'i, ma e afaina ai totoga e iai le fatuga'o, le fatu, ma le ate. O nisi ua maliliu ona o lenei fa'ama'i.

  • Tiga tele le ulu (headache)

  • Gaoi le tino, ae maise vae ma le tua 

  • Mu mata

  • Afu (sweating)

  • Vaivai

  • Manava tata

  • Tiga-gofie mata, ae maise i le malamalama

  • Fa'asuati

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O le a le taimi e va'ai ai se Foma'i?

  • A fa'apea ua maua oe i le Leposipairosi, alu vave loa e va'ai le foma'i.

  • Fa'amatala i le foma'i tulaga sa e tagofia ai ni meaola, pe sa e ta'ele i se 'auvai o lo'o e masalomia ua afaina i otaota lafoa'i o meaola.

  • Talosaga i le foma'i ina ia fai sau su'ega mo le Leposipairosi.

  • E iai fuala'au e inu e fo'ia ai le fa'ama'i pe a vave maua.

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Leposipairosi e Pepesi Mai Meaola Aga'i Tagata

  • O fe'au-vai mai nei meaola e afaina ai le ele'ele, fa'apea ma 'auvai.

  • Tagofia e tagata nei ele'ele, pe ta'e'ele foi i nei 'auvai.

  • E ulu le siama i totonu o le tino ala atu i le isu, gutu, mata, manu'a o le tino.

  • Leai se fia 'ai 

  • Ma'alili

  • Tiga le manava

  • Tau le faia se fe'au-vai (pee)

  • Malosi le lanu o lefe'au-vai

  • Sasama le pa'u ma mata (jaundice)

  • Tiga le ua (stiff neck)

  • Fa'afaufau

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