Californian Dies from Rare Disease After 'Trapping, Feeding and Breeding Wild Rats' in an RV
Yahoo News Malaysia • • health
Key Points:
- A California resident died from leptospirosis after living in an RV severely infested with wild rats, with their partner also contracting the disease but recovering with treatment.
- Leptospirosis is a rare bacterial disease spread through contact with infected animals' urine or body fluids, posing higher risks to people living in close contact with rats or animal urine.
- Berkeley city manager Paul Buddenhagen emphasized the extremely low public health risk, noting person-to-person transmission is very uncommon and no other cases have been reported at the nearby Harrison Street encampment.
- Alameda County Vector Control conducted extensive rat trapping and removal around the RV, which was eventually sealed, cleared of rats, and destroyed to prevent further infections.
- The death was described as an "extreme situation," prompting Berkeley officials to propose increased awareness and research efforts regarding the city's rat population.