New York City Health Officials Warn of Rise in Cases of Rare Disease Linked to Rat Urine
New York City health officials are sounding the alarm after seeing a spike in cases of leptospirosis, a rare disease linked to rat urine. This increase comes just a year after Mayor Eric Adams appointed the city’s first “rat czar” in an effort to combat the city’s rat problem.
Sanitation workers, who are frequently exposed to rats, are being disproportionately affected by the disease. Leptospirosis can lead to acute kidney and liver failure, as well as severe respiratory problems. In just over two decades, the disease has resulted in six deaths in the city.
In response to the rise in cases, City Council is considering ordinances, including a birth control program for rats, to decrease the rat population. Additionally, the sanitation workers union is supporting a state bill that would provide benefits to workers and their families if they become disabled or die from the disease.
The city sanitation department has been working to educate workers on how to prevent leptospirosis. They are also moving more trash into containers to reduce rat sightings and limit contact with rat urine. Health officials are urging local providers to report cases swiftly and educate city workers about leptospirosis and occupational risks.
Leptospirosis is spread via bacteria found in infected animals’ urine, particularly in the area’s Norwegian rats. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, diarrhea, jaundice, and rash, and can lead to kidney failure, meningitis, liver damage, and respiratory distress.
The disease is believed to thrive in hotter and wetter climates, possibly due to climate change, which may explain the increase in cases seen in New York City in 2023. The push to control rat populations gained renewed attention following the death of the beloved owl “Flaco,” who died after crashing into a building with elevated levels of rat poison in his system.
As the city works to address the issue, it is crucial for residents to be vigilant and take precautions to reduce the risk of exposure to rat urine and prevent the spread of leptospirosis.
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