Married in November 2017 after a magnificent ceremony, Elizabeth and Chris, in their fifties, flew off for a dream week in the Caribbean. Horseback riding, sandy beaches, sun… Everything is going well, until this excursion to a waterfall, on the last day of the stay. At the scene, Elizabeth immediately remembers being disturbed by the appearance of the water, which was very different from what was promised.
“I had seen photos of this turquoise water, but in real life it was brownish and cloudy. It was not at all what I imagined.” But whatever. Every minute counts for the groom, and Chris dives in, to enjoy the last moments.
Signs of gastroenteritis, which get worse
The next day, paradise already seems far away. Chris begins to suffer from diarrhea and nausea. The couple thinks it’s a simple gastroenteritis related to travel. But the symptoms persist, get worse, and a week later Chris has to come home early from work.
Two weeks after their return, the shock: his skin and eyes turn yellow. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed jaundice, then discovered kidney and liver failure, the origin of which remains unclear.
Elizabeth, worried, does her own research and comes across a disease of which many cases are reported in Jamaica: leptospirosis.
A disease transmitted by contaminated water
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. These bacteria are excreted in the urine of many animals, including rats, dogs and livestock (cattle, pigs, horses, etc.). They can survive for several weeks in fresh water, mud or damp soil.
Human contamination occurs when the bacteria enters the body through a skin wound, even tiny, or through the mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, nose) during contact with contaminated water: rivers, lakes, puddles, waterfalls or stagnant water, particularly after heavy rain. Conditions that correspond to their last trip.
The most serious form: Weil syndrome
Chris is diagnosed with an acute and severe form called Weil’s disease. Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician, explains the typical development:
“After an incubation of 5 to 14 days, the disease begins suddenly with fever, chills, severe headache, muscle pain, particularly in the calves and lower back, and red eyes.”
In 5 to 20% of cases unfortunately, the disease progresses to this serious form:
“We then observe jaundice, acute renal failure, pulmonary hemorrhages and sometimes failure of several organs. This is Weil syndrome, which can be fatal without rapid treatment.”
Chris’s condition deteriorates despite antibiotic therapy with doxycycline. He is placed on a respirator, then in an artificial coma. A few days later, doctors told Elizabeth that he was brain dead. Fifty days after their marriage, she must say goodbye to her husband. To make matters worse, the next day, she received both her marriage certificate and the death certificate in her mail.
A disease that is still too little known
For Dr. Kierzek, this story illustrates an underestimated danger:
“Leptospirosis often affects young and healthy people, because they swim or play sports in natural waters. The incubation is short and the progression can be rapid. Even with intensive care, mortality in severe forms can reach 40%.”
The diagnosis is based on blood tests (kidney and liver abnormalities, inflammation) and specific tests (PCR, serology). Treatment is based on emergency antibiotics (penicillin, ceftriaxone) and hospitalization in intensive care if necessary. But it’s not always enough.
How to protect yourself from leptospirosis?
Health authorities and doctors point out several essential rules:
- Avoid swimming in murky, muddy, stagnant water or after heavy rain (lakes, rivers, waterfalls, ravines);
- Never enter water with a wound, unless it is protected by a waterproof dressing;
- Wear protection (suit, gloves, boots) for water or fishing activities;
- Wash thoroughly with soap after any exposure to fresh water;
- Immediately disinfect any cuts or scrapes;
- Seek medical attention if you develop a fever within 4 to 14 days after swimming or freshwater activity, reporting exposure
A vaccine exists, but it is reserved in France for professionally exposed people (sewer workers, breeders, farmers, etc.).
Although in France, leptospirosis remains relatively rare (between 600 and 700 cases per year), it should not be taken lightly. Infection constitutes a major public health problem internationally. Every year, more than a million people contract the disease worldwide, and around 60,000 die from it.
Five years after Chris’ death, Elizabeth found love again and remarried in 2024. But she continues to tell her story. “I want people to know that even after tragedy, you can find light. And if my story can save someone else from going through this nightmare, then it will mean something.”