https://gizmodo.com/new-york-city-hit-by...1847885693
INTRO: New York City is dealing with an unusual outbreak of a rare, sometimes fatal disease spread through rat urine, called leptospirosis. At least 15 locals have contracted the bacterial disease in 2021 so far, according to health officials, with most hospitalized and one person dead as a result. It’s not known why cases have been more common this year, though warmer weather conditions fueled by climate change may be a factor.
Leptospirosis, also called Weil’s disease, is caused by thin, corkscrew-shaped Leptospira bacteria. It’s a zoonotic disease, meaning that infections are transmitted to humans through animals, in this case their infected urine. This can happen through direct contact with urine or when the urine contaminates the environment, such as our food and water. The bacteria can still be contagious for weeks to months once introduced to the environment under the right conditions.
Not everyone becomes sick after getting the infection, and its vague symptoms can make diagnosis difficult at first. These symptoms include high fever, chills, muscle aches, and jaundice (yellowed skin and eyes). Sometimes, people may recover from this first bout only to experience a worse and more life-threatening second phase of illness, one that can severely damage the liver, kidneys, and brain. This second stage is more common when the infection isn’t promptly treated with antibiotics.
Leptospirosis is found all over the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it may cause more than 1 million infections and around 59,000 deaths annually. But in the U.S., it’s rarely reported... (MORE)
INTRO: New York City is dealing with an unusual outbreak of a rare, sometimes fatal disease spread through rat urine, called leptospirosis. At least 15 locals have contracted the bacterial disease in 2021 so far, according to health officials, with most hospitalized and one person dead as a result. It’s not known why cases have been more common this year, though warmer weather conditions fueled by climate change may be a factor.
Leptospirosis, also called Weil’s disease, is caused by thin, corkscrew-shaped Leptospira bacteria. It’s a zoonotic disease, meaning that infections are transmitted to humans through animals, in this case their infected urine. This can happen through direct contact with urine or when the urine contaminates the environment, such as our food and water. The bacteria can still be contagious for weeks to months once introduced to the environment under the right conditions.
Not everyone becomes sick after getting the infection, and its vague symptoms can make diagnosis difficult at first. These symptoms include high fever, chills, muscle aches, and jaundice (yellowed skin and eyes). Sometimes, people may recover from this first bout only to experience a worse and more life-threatening second phase of illness, one that can severely damage the liver, kidneys, and brain. This second stage is more common when the infection isn’t promptly treated with antibiotics.
Leptospirosis is found all over the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it may cause more than 1 million infections and around 59,000 deaths annually. But in the U.S., it’s rarely reported... (MORE)