摘要：In early December 1998, the Northern Rivers Public Health Unit (north-eastern New South Wales) was alerted to apossible cluster of leptospirosis cases by the supervising scientist of the Western Pacific Region World HealthOrganization/Food and Agricultural Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research onLeptospirosis. Investigation revealed a cluster of eight leptospirosis cases diagnosed during Octob er and November1998. All were employees of a local meat works. Leptospira serovars isolated included pomona and hardjo.Symptoms included headache, fever, muscle pain, sore eyes, abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice, and rash. Five ofthe eight cases were hospitalised. The infection could not be traced to any particular source. Unfo rtunately, recordsof stock killed during the exposure periods were not available. All cases reported exposure to large volumes ofanimal urine during the course of their work. Protective clothing provided included an apron, gloves, and rubberboots. All of the patients said they wore rubber boots and seven of the eight wore the apron provided. Only twopatients reported wearing gloves, the remainder thought these were too difficult to work in
