Outbreak of kidney disease is killing sea lions in California. Here's why humans should be concerned

An outbreak of kidney disease among sea lions could result in humans and pets getting ill.

The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito has responded to more than 200 sea lions that have shown symptoms, with 150 of those since the beginning of July.

As summer heats up and tourists flock to the California coast, beachgoers should be on the lookout for sea lions sickened by a recent outbreak of leptospirosis — a kidney disease that can result in severe symptoms in both humans and animals.

The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito has reported a significant outbreak of leptospirosis in California sea lions since early July, affecting animals primarily in Central and Northern California, according to the center’s public relations director, Giancarlo Rulli.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that ca