Introduction:

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease of broad worldwide distribution. Its socioeconomic impact is not known, due to the lack of epidemiological studies providing reliable mortality and morbidity data.

Objective:

Describe the evolution of cases of human leptospirosis reported to Sivigila in Colombia from 2012 to 2016.

Methods:

An observational descriptive study was conducted based on the records of annual reports of leptospirosis notified to Sivigila in Colombia from 2012 to 2016. Use was made of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

Results:

A total 10 435 cases of leptospirosis were reported during the five-year period analyzed. Sociodemographic characterization showed that the largest number of cases were men, 49.8 % belonged to the subsidized regime, most occurred in the municipal capital, and the most commonly affected population was the group "without ethnic identification". The most relevant epidemiological antecedents were contact with canines, rats in the household and fluvial activities.

Conclusions:

Gathering of epidemiological data about surveillance of human leptospirosis revealed that this disease continues to be a worrisome public health problem that demands improved national prevention and control strategies.

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