In regard to an article about leptospirosis (“Vets will explore leptospirosis in dogs at a public meeting next week,” May 16), all confirmed cases of leptospirosis in animals in King County require written reports be submitted to the county’s Department of Health.

Written documentation from this department concerning reported cases states that the initial leptospirosis surge seen between December 2005 and April 2006 showed 32 cases in dogs on Vashon and 10 elsewhere in the county, not the 60 Island cases reported in The Beachcomber.

In a phone conversation with Sharon Hopkins, a King County public health veterinarian, I asked her about the multiple statements appearing in this article citing higher rates and numbers of leptospirosis cases occurring on Vashon. Dr. Hopkins stated that there have been no studies done to document such higher rates or numbers on Vashon and that, since the single surge in Vashon cases between December 2005 and April 2006, the distribution of all cases throughout King County has been very diffuse, with no particular area or locality, including Vashon, reporting higher rates or numbers of leptospirosis cases.

There are currently no leptospirosis vaccines available in the United States, including the four-way leptospirosis vaccine, that contains the two strains of leptospirosis that are believed to cause the disease in this area. When asked if there has been any definitive documentation that any of the leptospirosis vaccines currently available in the U.S. would definitively protect dogs on Vashon and the rest of King County from the two strains we have, Dr. Hopkins indicated that she was not aware of any such documentation.

Any Island resident can do an Internet search for “Canine leptospirosis in King County-2011” or call Dr. Hopkins at 263-8454 for further information.

— Larry Glickstein, DV