A high blood test for white blood cells is often seen when the body is infected with a bacteria or virus. Viruses such as epidemic hemorrhagic fever, epidemic B encephalitis, or rabies. In addition, rickettsial infections, such as typhus, spirochete infections such as leptospirosis or syphilis, or lung fluke infections can cause a significant increase in white blood cells. Other serious conditions, such as sepsis, may also cause a significant increase in white blood cells. Severe trauma, surgical trauma, and large burns can lead to ischemic necrosis of local tissues, resulting in significantly higher white blood cells. Leukocytes may also be significantly elevated during acute hemorrhage, and during acute poisoning, such as snake poisoning. In addition, high white blood cells may be a physiological condition, such as an increase in white blood cells after a full meal, after strenuous exercise, or when a person is emotionally upset. In addition, women who are more than five months pregnant or who give birth may also have high white blood cells; newborns may also have high white blood cells.