Leptospirosis in Hawaii | CDC EID

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Volume 17, Number 2–February 2011
Research
Leptospirosis in Hawaii, USA, 1999–2008
Alan R. Katz, Arlene E. Buchholz, Kialani Hinson, Sarah Y. Park, and Paul V. Effler

Author affiliations: University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA (A.R. Katz, K. Hinson); and Hawaii State Department of Health, Honolulu (A.E. Buchholz, S.Y. Park, P.V. Effler)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
Although infrequently diagnosed in the United States, leptospirosis is a notable reemerging infectious disease throughout developing countries. Until 1995, when the disease was eliminated from the US list of nationally notifiable diseases, Hawaii led the nation in reported annual incidence rates. Leptospirosis remains a notifiable disease in Hawaii. To ascertain the status of leptospirosis in Hawaii since the most recent US report in 2002, we reviewed 1999–2008 data obtained from case investigation reports by the Hawaii State Department of Health. Of the 345 case reports related to in-state exposures, 198 (57%) were laboratory confirmed. Our findings indicate a change in seasonal disease occurrence from summer to winter and in the infective serogroup from Icterohemorrhagiae to Australis. Also, during the past 20 years, recreational exposures have plateaued, while occupational exposures have increased. Ongoing surveillance is needed to clarify and track the dynamic epidemiology of this widespread zoonosis.

Leptospirosis is considered the most globally widespread zoonotic illness; it has been classified as an emerging or reemerging infectious disease by the World Health Organization (1) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2). Most frequently recognized as a disease of the developing world (3), leptospirosis was removed from the US list of nationally reportable infectious diseases in 1995 (4). Before the disease's removal from national surveillance, Hawaii consistently led the nation in reported annual incidence rates (5). The state of Hawaii continues to include leptospirosis as a notifiable illness. The last published US population-based surveillance report was from Hawaii and covered data obtained during 1974–1998 (5). This study serves as an update for leptospirosis in Hawaii during 1999–2008.

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Leptospirosis in Hawaii | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article
Katz AR, Buchholz AE, Hinson K, Park SY, Effler PV. Leptospirosis in Hawaii, USA, 1999–2008. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Feb [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/2/221.htm


DOI: 10.3201/eid1702.101109


Comments to the Authors
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Alan R. Katz, Department of Public Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Biomedical Sciences Building, Rm D104M, 1960 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA; email: katz@hawaii.edu