Report on “Opportunities for reduction of the incidence and severity of occupationally acquired leptospirosis in New Zealand"

Published by

Department of Labour
PO Box 3705
Wellington
New Zealand

August 2007

www.dol.govt.nz
ISBN 978-0-478-28142-2

Acknowledgements

The author, Barrie Keenan of Keenan Consulting expresses his appreciation and gratitude to all those contacted in the course of undertaking this project. The manner in which people shared their experiences, views, information and resources enabled the wide range of perspectives to be gathered, understood, and appreciated.

Disclaimer

The Report summarises written material primarily generated and published since the release of the "Guidelines for the Control of Occupationally Acquired Leptospirosis" by the Department of Labour in June 2001, and information gained from people interviewed and contacted in the course of the project.

Every care has been taken to accurately reflect the material of the resources reviewed and the statements and views of people consulted. However the views and interpretations expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Department of Labour or other organisations or institutions of the individuals consulted.

Barrie R Keenan
Wellington
August 2007

Table of Contents

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
  • In support of these areas and issues:
  • Other institutional and industry initiatives
• RECOMMENDATIONS
• BACKGROUND
  • Reason for this study at this time
  • Scope of this study - Terms of Reference
  • What is Leptospirosis?
  • What does it do to people?
  • What have been the trends in New Zealand since 1990 and since 2001?
  • Acceptance of claims by ACC
  • Some idea of the cost to the individual and the nation
  • Changes in species and/or serovars and routes of transmission.
• UPDATE ON RESEARCH
  • The changing epidemiology of human leptospirosis in New Zealand
  • Leptospirosis in sheep and deer
  • Beef Cattle
  • Deer
  • Meat Industry
• INITIATIVES TAKEN SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE GUIDELINES
  • Department of Labour Paper: Towards a National Strategy of the Control of Leptospirosis
  • Summary of responses to "National Strategy" paper
  • Meeting of stakeholder Discussion Group on "Leptospirosis in Sheep" at Massey University 1 April 2003
  • Mel Tyson's paper "Where are the Opportunities for DOL with Leptospirosis Prevention?"
  • Leptospirosis Update for Agricultural Workshop (dated 8 August 2003) and Leptospirosis Update (dated 1 September 2003)
  • Leptospirosis Meeting - held on October 2003
  • Leptospirosis Meeting - held on 11 February 2004
  • Meeting of Stakeholders at the Wellington School of Medicine
  • Meeting of health and animal researchers
  • Meeting of stakeholders on 17 August 2005
  • Meeting of Stakeholders at Massey University on 14 June 2006
• WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF, AND EXPOSURE TO, THE HAZARD?
  • What leadership is being shown by the Department?
  • The opportunity to obtain one complete and comprehensive dataset.
  • The opportunity to obtain comprehensive regional data
  • A Pilot Project in Hawkes Bay
• WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF HARM?
  • Updating of the "Guidelines"
  • What is the cost of the harm?
  • How can the risk be minimised?
• WHAT IS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VACCINATION AND OTHER SOLUTIONS
• WHY DO CERTAIN ATTITUDES EXIST?
• WHAT BEARING DO DESIGN ISSUES HAVE ON PROTECTION?
• REFERENCES – PUBLISHED PAPERS
• OTHER REFERENCES
• MEETINGS AND CONTACTS

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