It is extremely unlikely that Leptospirosis will be eliminated entirely from the New Zealand environment. There is no human vaccine. Therefore the emphasis must be to isolate and minimise the hazard. There is no human to human transmission.
Key stakeholders are the Department of Labour (DOL), the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Ministry of Health (MoH), meat industry, meat workers unions, farmers and their families, general practitioners, animal researchers, public health researchers, veterinarians, and animal vaccine manufacturers.
Following the publication of the “Guidelines” in 2001 there have been a range of initiatives taken by each of the main stakeholder groups as they have striven to meet their respective responsibilities. While this review has identified a number of specific areas requiring further research the key issue is how the contributions of the stakeholders can be brought together demonstrating the extent to which the industry has assumed responsibility for reducing the incidence and severity of occupationally acquired Leptospirosis in New Zealand, and how this leadership can be enhanced in the future.
The specific areas requiring further research are:
1. Definitive data on the occurrence of Leptospirosis in the community, especially the rural community.
2. Development of one comprehensive dataset rather than having to rely on the five different systems as at present.
3. Development of “easier-to-use” personal protective equipment of proven efficacy particularly for use in “high-at-risk” areas of meat processing plants.
4. The efficacy of vaccines for sheep and deer and hence the economics of use with these species.
5. Improvements in diagnostic tests for humans and the possibility of tests for animals before they are offered for sale or slaughter and processing.
6. Identification of sources of funding for related research initiatives.