A deadly infection spread by rats has reached record levels in the number of hospital appointments taken up by people suffering from the illness.

Hospital sessions for people suffering from Weil's disease, which is spread by rats' urine, are three times the level three years ago and are now at unprecedented levels.

The illness, which can be difficult to diagnose without sophisticated tests, attacks the kidneys and liver, and claims the life of around one or two people every year.
Weil's disease bacteria can enter the body through cuts and scratches and are found in contaminated water in ponds and slow-flowing rivers.

The infection can cause life-threatening organ failure – and up to five per cent of cases are thought to be fatal – but it is treatable with antibiotics.
One expert claims the rise in cases could be partly due to more people doing adventure activities and water sports.

Between one and five per cent of cases are fatal
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says between one and five per cent of cases are fatal. British Olympic rowing champion Andy Holmes, 51, died of the infection in 2010.

It is believed he contracted the illness after racing on a waterway in Lincolnshire, where the bacteria could have entered his body through blisters on his hands.

The sharp rise in Weil's disease – also known as leptospirosis – comes as stronger poisons are increasingly being needed to crack down on a 'rat epidemic'.




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http://medfort.com.ng/a-deadly-disease-spread-by-rat-resurface/