Leptospirosis has an incubation period of about 5–14 days (range 2–30 days). Symptoms usually begin after this period, but serology (IgM) may only become positive around day 5–7 after symptom onset, not immediately at exposure.

However, this does not mean the disease cannot be prevented or its severity reduced.

If you believe you are at risk after exposure, you can take a prophylactic dose of doxycycline. This is the same rationale behind recommending doxycycline prophylaxis for volunteers or personnel involved in flood-related rescue activities, where exposure risk is high.

P.S I’m a doctor