Taking a she’ll-be-right attitude to leptospirosis is no longer good enough, says an international expert on leptospirosis, Associate Professor Jackie Benschop, of Massey University.

A New Zealand expert in leptospirosis says the disease appears to be becoming more ‘tropical’ in the way it is occurring in NZ. 

After a spike in cases of leptospirosis in Northland, farmers are being urged to take care around animals and to vaccinate their livestock.

A nationwide dairy farm survey is underway as part of a project to evaluate the effectiveness of current vaccination practices to prevent leptospirosis in dairy herds.

Scientists at Massey University have been awarded $480,000 to find out whether vaccinating dairy cattle against the bacterial disease leptospirosis has been fully effective.

THE NEW Zealand Veterinary Association has added its voice to recent reminders to protect herds and people from leptospirosis and is urging an earlier start to vaccinations.

HALF THE human cases of leptospirosis recorded each year in New Zealand are farmers, a turnaround from 15 years ago when meat workers dominated disease statistics, one of a new series of videos from Massey University warns.

A new video series produced and developed by Massey University researchers may save some of the 100 people each year that are affected by leptospirosis.

RURAL WOMEN New Zealand  reminds Far North farming families to be mindful about health issues in dealing with flood waters, inclduing the elevated risk of leptospirosis.

FARMERS ARE urged to vaccinate their young stock earlier against Leptospirosis to better protect themselves, their staff and their animals from the disease.