Falcon powers – City officials in New York have issued a concerning warning about the rising number of cases of a disease transmitted through rat urine, after recording a record high in infections during 2023. The disease, known as Leptospirosis, is spread through bacteria found in the urine of Norway rats, and can cause severe symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as kidney or liver failure, and meningitis.
24 cases of the disease were reported in the city last year, a concerning record high for the city’s history, while 6 cases have already been recorded in the first few months of 2024. City officials indicate that the seasonal climate conditions that usually keep the disease in check have not played their usual role this year, leading to a spike in cases.
The deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Celia Coyne, expressed concern in a memo issued last Friday, noting that the bacteria can remain active in damp, warm environments for weeks. Infection occurs through direct contact with infected urine or contaminated water and soil, and New Yorkers are often exposed to these bacteria when handling garbage bins.
In light of this crisis, a new program was proposed last Thursday to combat the spread of rats in the city, involving the use of birth control methods for rats in an attempt to curb their ongoing proliferation and break the chain of transmission for this dangerous disease.
