Getting a house ready for the rainy season usually means checking the roof, the gutters and the drain out front. Leptospirosis rarely makes that list, even though this bacterial infection spreads through the urine of infected animals, mostly rats, and tends to arrive with standing water. According to the Ministry of Health, its early signs are mild and easy to miss.
In December 2025, Indonesia's Ministry of Health issued Circular No. PV.03.03/C/5559/2025 on preparedness for possible leptospirosis outbreaks. In the accompanying release, the Director General of Disease Control, drg. Murti Utami, named standing water, poor sanitation and the rise in rat numbers after floods as risk factors. Cleaning a house or working in flooded areas without protective gear also raises the odds of infection.
At a press conference on 22 September 2026, BMKG head Teuku Faisal Fathani said 185 seasonal zones are expected to enter the rainy season in November 2026 and another 266 in December 2026, with the onset arriving later than normal across most of the country. That outlook is national, not specific to Bekasi, so use the rest of October to get the house ready before regular rain sets in.
How the bacteria reach people
According to the Ministry of Health, Leptospira bacteria spread through water, mud, soil or food contaminated with an infected animal's urine. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says people generally get sick 2 to 30 days after contact. A fever that shows up two weeks after cleaning up standing water may no longer be linked back to the water.
The CDC advises covering cuts, however small, with waterproof bandages and wearing boots or waterproof clothing near floodwater.
Risk spots in a two-storey house
A house that never floods still has places where rats and water meet. Check these four.
1. The carport and terrace after a downpour
In many housing estates, water from the road can briefly rise into the carport during heavy rain, then drain away and leave a thin layer of mud. Shoes and sandals left on the terrace floor sit in it. Rinse the carport floor once the water is gone, and move footwear onto a higher rack for the season.
2. The drain in front of the house
A drain clogged with leaves and rubbish is both a rat route and a place where water sits. Don't clear it bare-handed. Wear thick rubber gloves and boots, or leave it to the cluster's cleaning staff.
3. The under-stair storage and the kitchen
Cardboard boxes, rice sacks and piles of stored things under the stairs are where rats like to nest. If you find droppings there, assume urine is there too. Clean the spot with gloves and a household disinfectant, and never pick anything up bare-handed. How to block the ways rats get into a kitchen is covered in our article on getting rid of ants, roaches and rats in a new kitchen.
4. Water tanks and open containers
The CDC also lists food and drinking water contaminated with animal urine as a route of infection. Keep the water tank lid tight, cover any bucket collecting rainwater, and don't leave food uncovered on the kitchen counter overnight.
Cleaning up after water gets in
- Cover cuts first. Use waterproof plasters on any cut on your hands or feet, however small.
- Wear protection. Rubber gloves and boots. Flip-flops are not enough.
- Clear the mud, then disinfect. Sweep and rinse out the mud, then wipe the floor and the lower walls with a household disinfectant at the dilution on the label. Never mix bleach with other cleaners.
- Keep children out of puddles. That water has already mixed with what came out of the drain.
- Wash hands and feet with soap when you finish, and every time you walk home through standing water.
When to see a doctor: the Ministry of Health asks anyone who develops fever, muscle pain, headache or red eyes after contact with floodwater or mud to get checked promptly. Tell the doctor about the water contact, because the illness is easily mistaken for an ordinary fever.
The CDC's symptom list is longer: nausea or vomiting, yellow skin and eyes, diarrhoea, chills, stomach pain and rash. Some people have no symptoms at all. If you are new to the area, the nearest community health centre (puskesmas) and posyandu are listed in our article on posyandu and puskesmas in North Bekasi. The rainy season is also dengue season, and prevention there works differently, as covered in the 3M Plus and fogging protocol for clusters.
Where the house sits matters
A house in an area that doesn't flood reduces exposure to standing water, though drains and rats still need attention. The Emerald 70 houses at Kingspoint Residence are on Jl. Raya Perjuangan in North Bekasi, a flood-free area about five minutes from Bekasi Station. How to read a location's flood history is covered in our article on flood-free houses in Bekasi.
Frequently asked questions
How does leptospirosis spread?
Leptospira bacteria leave the body in the urine of infected animals, mostly rats. According to Indonesia's Ministry of Health, people catch it through water, mud, soil or food contaminated with that urine.
How long after floodwater contact do symptoms appear?
The CDC says 2 to 30 days after contact. The early symptoms named by the Ministry of Health are fever, muscle pain, headache and red eyes.
What should I wear to clean up after standing water?
Rubber gloves, boots, and waterproof plasters over any cuts. Once the mud is out, wipe the floor with disinfectant at the label dilution, then wash your hands and feet with soap.
Sources: Indonesian Ministry of Health, “Kemenkes Siaga Penanggulangan Leptospirosis Pasca Bencana” (17 December 2025), which refers to Circular No. PV.03.03/C/5559/2025; CDC, “About Leptospirosis”; BMKG 2026/2027 rainy-season outlook as reported by CNBC Indonesia (26 September 2026). This article is general information and not a substitute for a medical check-up.
Want to know how the Kingspoint estate handles the rain?
Ask about the cluster drains and estate roads, and which Emerald 70 houses are still available on Jl. Raya Perjuangan, North Bekasi.
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