TY - JOUR AU - Vega-Corredor, Maria Cecilia AU - Opadeyi, Jacob PY - 2014 DA - 2014/02/12 TI - Hydrology and public health: linking human leptospirosis and local hydrological dynamics in Trinidad, West Indies JO - Earth Perspectives SP - 3 VL - 1 IS - 1 AB - Human leptospirosis is currently one of the most widespread bacterial zoonoses and is the only epidemic-prone infection that can be transmitted directly from contaminated water. Transmission in humans is caused by direct or indirect contact with contaminated water, soil or infected urine, blood or tissue of carrier animals. Initial symptoms are similar with those suffered during influenza, dengue or viral hepatitis. As the disease progresses, internal organs can be compromised causing severe hemorrhages, organ failure and, potentially, death. Human leptospirosis is a growing global public health problem although, in endemic areas, it is considered a neglected disease. Hydrological factors, including rainfall and floods, have been frequently related to human leptospirosis. In the Caribbean, leptospirosis is endemic and it is a disease under surveillance. Based on confirmed cases, in Trinidad & Tobago the average annual incidence of human leptospirosis ranges between 1.78 to 1.84 cases per 100,000 population. SN - 2194-6434 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/2194-6434-1-3 DO - 10.1186/2194-6434-1-3 ID - Vega-Corredor2014 ER -