Page 8 - ALG 1.21

legal matters Leptospirosis
Why is this important when working on my allotment plot?
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection found worldwide and comes in two forms. Weils disease is most commonly acquired from water contaminated
with rat urine. Hardjo is similar but is generally caught from cattle. On an allotment site it is extremely important to control infestations of rats.
• Leptospires are naturally aquatic organisms and are found in fresh water, damp soil, vegetation
and mud. Flooding may spread the organism because, as water saturates the soil, leptospires pass directly into surface waters.
• As mentioned above, the principal source of human infection is the rat and due to many allotments being close to water, or having poultry on site, there is always a source of food available.
• Infected animals carry the bacteria in their kidneys, often without becoming unwell. They can excrete leptospires in their urine for some time. The spirochaetes are shed from the urine and can survive in the environment
for several months in moist, warm
conditions.
• Disease is acquired through contact
with contaminated water and soil, or through contact with urine or tissues of infected animals.
• Leptospiresenterthebloodstream through abraded skin, mucosal membranes or conjunctiva from contaminated water or soil.
The incubation period is generally 7–21 days (may be 2–30 days). Some cases are asymptomatic or have mild flu-like symptoms. In more severe cases, symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle pain and vomiting, and may lead to jaundice, meningitis and kidney failure. The disease can be fatal. Anyone with flu-like symptoms, who may have been in contact with rat urine or with cattle or their products, should seek medical attention. Antibiotic treatment should be started as soon as possible.
CONTROL MEASURES
The following control measures reduce the risk of infection:
• The rat population should be effectively controlled.
• Cuts and abrasions should be covered with waterproof dressings.
• Good occupational hygiene practices
In more severe cases, symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle pain and vomiting, and may lead to jaundice, meningitis and kidney failure
should be followed, especially
washing with warm water and soap.
• Suitable protective gloves should be
worn when handling rats (dead or
alive).
• A suitable disinfectant should be used.
Since March 2018, anyone who wants to buy wheat-based rodenticide (rat bait, mice bait) over 150g or rat bait / mice bait in blocks over 300g must complete a Rodent Control course.
Rodent control is key to many self- managed associations, who have the responsibility to control vermin on the site under their health and safety obligations. A rat bait course such as the NAS (Lantra) e-learning course will give you a nationally recognised certificate of competence that can then be used for purchasing professional use rat and mice baits. This online rat poison course meets these requirements and also meets the standard set by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU). Rodenticide courses cover:
• Why it is vital to control rats and mice
• The behaviour and biology of rodents
• Legislation around rat baits & mice
baits
• Carrying out a survey
• Methods of non-chemical control
8 Allotment and Leisure Gardener