Musing and Errata on the world of Adventure Racing from the Yak
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According to a recent post on the WeCeFar message boards at least one racer who competed in the USARA Nationals in Tampa last month has been diagnosed by the Centers for Disease Control as having contracted Leptospirosis.

This rare bacterial disease is typically contracted by humans when open wounds are exposed to fresh water containing urine from infected animals. If left untreated it can have serious complications including liver or renal failure and in a small percentage of cases it has been fatal. Some of you may remember the Lepto outbreak that resulted from the 2000 Eco-Challenge in Borneo.

It is often difficult to diagnose Lepto and in many cases those infected exhibit no symptoms at all. If you were in Tampa last month and have any reason to believe you could have been exposed you should contact Tom Clark at the CDC for more information and to arrange a blood test.

We will continue to report on this story as more information comes to light and as more racers who reported illness after the race are tested.