Additionally, individuals should not drink water from the river nor submerge their heads. But being aware of the risk and knowing how to avoid exposure is a prudent policy. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is transmitted from animals to humans through exposure to animal urine, usually when the urine is found in fresh water and mud. The bacteria enter the body through broken skin and the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth. The disease has an incubation period ranging from 2-21 days, usually about 10 days.
Early symptoms are flu-like, including fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, nausea, vomiting.
The disease is effectively treated with certain antibiotics early in the course of the disease. If a person feels they have symptoms of leptospirosis, they should contact their doctor immediately.