BOTH PEOPLE AND PETS… ACTION NEWS 8 THE 300 MILE STRETCH OF CALIFORNIA COASTLINE FROM SANTA CRUZ TO SONOMA IS SEEING AN OUTBREAK OF A KIDNEY DISEASE IMPACTING SEA LIONS. HAVE BASICALLY A VERY LARGE OUTBREAK WITH RIGHT NOW NO END IN SIGHT, BETWEEN 6 TO 8 WEEKS PLUS EARLIER THAN WHAT WE’RE HISTORICALLY USED TO, IS SOMETHING THAT HAS OUR COLLECTIVE ATTENTION RIGHT NOW. LEPTOSPIROSIS IS A KIDNEY DISEASE. IT’S NOT UNCOMMON IN SEA LIONS. IT SHOWS UP EVERY 3 TO 5 YEARS. IT’S MOSTLY SPREAD THROUGH URINE. SO WHEN THOUSANDS OF SEA LIONS ARE GATHERED ON THE BEACH, IT CAN CONTAMINATE THE SAND. AND IT’S VERY CONTAGIOUS AND CAN SPREAD TO HUMANS AND PETS. THIS IS A ZOO, NOT A DISEASE, SO IT CAN BE SPREAD TO HUMANS AND DOGS. WE ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED IN THIS AREA ABOUT SPREAD TO YOUR PET. RULI SAYS. WHEN A DOG RUNS FREE OR WHEN PEOPLE INTERACT WITH SEA LIONS ON THE BEACH. THAT’S HOW THE DISEASE CAN SPREAD. PEOPLE HEADING OUT TO THE BEACHES THAT THEY KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE OF AT LEAST 150FT FROM A LIVE MARINE MAMMAL OR DEAD MARINE MAMMAL. AND TO KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEASH. THE OUTBREAK BEGAN ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST, BUT WE ARE NOW SEEING IT HERE IN THE BAY AREA. LET’S HOPE IT DOESN’T TURN OUT TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE HERE. I AS SOON AS I START TALKING TO THE OTHER DOG FAMILIES OUT HERE, I WILL FIND OUT IF THEY’RE AWARE OF IT OR NOT. RODEO BEACH IN MARIN COUNTY DOESN’T HAVE THE MASSIVE NUMBER OF SEA LIONS, WHERE THE DISEASE CAN LIKELY SPREAD TO. BUT RUDY SAYS PRECAUTIONS ARE STILL NECESSARY. BE PROACTIVE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT IF YOU’RE GOING TO THE BEACH TO KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, THERE ARE EXPERTS RESPONDING TO IT. BUT THERE ARE STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR PET, ESPECIALLY JUST DUE TO HOW DEADLY IT CAN BE FOR DOGS. THAT WAS ‘ANSER HASSAN’ REPORTING FOR US. A REMINDER… ‘LEPTO- SPIROSIS’ … CAN AFFECT HUMANS — AS WELL AS DOGS, CATS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS INCLUDE… LETHARGY, VOMITING, INCREASE IN THIRST AND URINATION — AND IN SOME CASES — A
Sea lion leptospirosis outbreak spreads up the California coast
Updated: 1:44 PM PDT Aug 18, 2025
A leptospirosis outbreak is affecting sea lions along a 300-mile stretch of California coastline from Santa Cruz to Sonoma, with concerns about its spread to humans and pets. The kidney disease, which is not uncommon in sea lions, typically appears every three to five years and is spread through urine, contaminating sand when thousands of sea lions gather on beaches.Giancarlo Ruli, with the Marine Mammal Center, expressed concern about the disease spreading to pets, particularly dogs, when they run free or when people interact with sea lions on the beach. “We are especially concerned in this area about spread to your pet,” Ruli said. He advised people visiting beaches to maintain a safe distance of at least 150 feet from live or dead marine mammals and to keep dogs on a leash.The outbreak began along the Central Coast and has now reached the Bay Area. Rodeo Beach in Marin County does not have a massive number of sea lions, but Ruli said precautions are still necessary. “Be proactive in terms of making sure that if you’re going to the beach, to know that this is happening,” he said, noting that experts are responding to the outbreak and there are steps to protect pets, especially given how deadly the disease can be for dogs.Leptospirosis can affect humans, dogs, cats, and other wildlife, with symptoms including lethargy, vomiting, increased thirst and urination, and in some cases, decreased urination. Although a vaccine is available, it does not cover all strains.
A leptospirosis outbreak is affecting sea lions along a 300-mile stretch of California coastline from Santa Cruz to Sonoma, with concerns about its spread to humans and pets.
The kidney disease, which is not uncommon in sea lions, typically appears every three to five years and is spread through urine, contaminating sand when thousands of sea lions gather on beaches.
Giancarlo Ruli, with the Marine Mammal Center, expressed concern about the disease spreading to pets, particularly dogs, when they run free or when people interact with sea lions on the beach.
“We are especially concerned in this area about spread to your pet,” Ruli said. He advised people visiting beaches to maintain a safe distance of at least 150 feet from live or dead marine mammals and to keep dogs on a leash.
The outbreak began along the Central Coast and has now reached the Bay Area. Rodeo Beach in Marin County does not have a massive number of sea lions, but Ruli said precautions are still necessary.
“Be proactive in terms of making sure that if you’re going to the beach, to know that this is happening,” he said, noting that experts are responding to the outbreak and there are steps to protect pets, especially given how deadly the disease can be for dogs.
Leptospirosis can affect humans, dogs, cats, and other wildlife, with symptoms including lethargy, vomiting, increased thirst and urination, and in some cases, decreased urination.
Although a vaccine is available, it does not cover all strains.