Sweetie... I don't think that you will get any illness from the leeches... they used to be a "form" of health care.

I know how you feel... I have a deep.. phobia of leeches..
One time my husband I were in a kayax in the swallows.. getting the boat out and carrying it up hill to the truck.. it was overhead.. when we set it down.. well you can imagine...

LOL.. I stripped.. and I kid you not.. right then and there.. on a public road... down to my undies... and made my husband inspect every inch.. to make sure nothing was on me..

So I know.. know.. it was a ewwwwwwwwww... experience for you.. I can laugh now... but then..Ohh... ewwwwwwwwwww... no one let me forget my "stripping" either.. was a family joke forever...