1 dead after rare rat-borne disease surfaces in Berkeley

Key Points:

• Berkeley has confirmed its first human cases of leptospirosis, a rare rat-borne bacterial disease, in over a decade, resulting in one death and one hospitalization linked to severe rat infestation in an RV.
• The infected individuals lived in an RV about a mile from a known rat and dog leptospirosis hotspot near the Harrison Street corridor, but outside the city’s previous risk zones, prompting officials to shift focus to rat-infested living conditions rather than geographic zones.
• Berkeley Public Health is distributing educational materials to at-risk populations, advising on sanitation, avoiding rat contact, and seeking prompt medical care, while also guiding medical providers to consider early testing and treatment without waiting for lab confirmation.
• Vector control efforts have removed nearly 200 rats from the RV and about 40 tons of garbage from the Harrison Street encampment, with ongoing trapping revealing higher-than-expected leptospirosis prevalence in local rats, though no broader community outbreak is evident.
• Residents are cautioned against DIY rat poisoning due to risks to pets and wildlife, and are encouraged to contact Alameda County Vector Control for assistance; dog owners are advised to consult veterinarians about leptospirosis vaccination.