Epidemiology of Human Leptospirosis in Colombia

Leptospirosis is an emerging acute zoonotic infection caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, with a high prevalence in tropical and subtropical countries. According to the Ministry of Public Health's database on leptospirosis cases during the years 2023- 2020, the year with the highest number of reported cases was 2022 with 240 cases, followed by 2023 with 222 cases. Regarding gender, the highest number of leptospirosis cases reported during the study period was male, and the average age was between 29 and 39 years. The department with the highest number of cases reported in 2023 was Antioquia with 38 cases, followed by Tolima, Bogotá, Santander, and Cundinamarca. In 2022, the department with the highest number of cases was Huila, followed by Antioquia, Tolima, Santander, and Risaralda. While in 2021 and 2020, the department with the highest incidence was Antioquia, followed by Tolima and Bogota. The occurrence of leptospirosis is significantly associated with several host characteristics, such as male gender and working age group; social and environmental determinants remain the main variables.