joflo
Olympic Poster
Sporadic poster (fomerly CleeJo/JoA)
Posts: 659
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Post by joflo on Dec 24, 2010 10:41:16 GMT 1
I've thought about this too. One of my old yard owners caught it and was seriously ill for ages. He went yellow! I have a squirty bottle of hand alcohol at the yard which I use, but I'm a tattooist so I spend most of my day cleaning my hands
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Bay Mare
Grand Prix Poster
Olympic Poster
Speak to the hoof
Posts: 1,818
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Post by Bay Mare on Dec 24, 2010 12:50:57 GMT 1
I knew someone who had contracted Weil's Disease and, unfortunately, died from it Thankfully (touch wood) it's not something that I have come across apart from that one person.
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varkie
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 4,913
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Post by varkie on Dec 24, 2010 14:08:32 GMT 1
The only person I've ever known who caught it was a pest controller. He wasn't too ill, and got over it fairly fast. But it can be incredibly serious.
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Amanda Seater
Grand Prix Poster
Listen to your horse you may be surprised what he may tell you about yourself
Posts: 3,866
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Post by Amanda Seater on Dec 24, 2010 14:35:36 GMT 1
Chris was very ill, he had leptosporosis but we caught it befoer it became full blown weils desease. he has permanent eye damage though - but you can't tell he jsut need much stronger reading glasses and sunlight can be iffy. I think the biggest problem was that the barn hadn't been used for 20 years and we disturbed the rats - all gone now.
I have been "in the dirt" for about 35 years and have never yet caught it. We have taken some precautions when working in or near the river and in areas of possible rat infestation ie - we actually wash our hands before eating.
IT must be noted though that the infection can enter through broken skin. Rivers, canals, lakes, ponds, barns, stables AND yoour back garden are all places of risk. To me though it is best just to be vigilant for symptoms and not go panicking too much about being rediculously obsessive about hygiene.
Symptoms - Chris just thought he had something in his eye it was red and sore - the soreness got worse and then the other eye started up - after 7 days he got flu like symptoms and then we knew what it must be, got tested and the drugs on the same day. He was rather poorly for about 4 - 6 weeks. It is hard to diagnose and to be honest if you are at risk it is worth mentioning and then just get teh right anti bs and all should be well it is if it is left more than 14 days that things like liver and kidney failure start.
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Post by ladynowak on Dec 24, 2010 14:38:44 GMT 1
I have known 3 people get it. One was an old colleague, he worked on a farm 'off season' so I presume he contracted it there, ended up in liver failure and died.
I know two others who have worked on yards who picked it up too. One girl was extreemly ill for quite a while, I know it took her over 4 months to be fit enough for light duties again and the other just had flu like symptoms and was back on her feet within a couple of weeks.
Don't just assume that you just have a bit of flu, always get it checked out.
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