RAT RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS & DISEASES

 aHantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS): Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus. HPS was first recognized in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the United States. Although rare, HPS is potentially deadly. Rodent control in and around the home remains the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus infection.  

Murine Typhus: Murine typhus (caused by infection with R. typhi) occurs worldwide and is transmitted to humans by rat fleas. Flea-infested rats can be found throughout the year in humid tropical environments, but in temperate regions are most common during the warm summer months. Travelers who visit in rat-infested buildings and homes, especially in harbor or riverine environments, can be at risk for exposure to the agent of murine typhus.

Rat-bite fever (RBF): Rat-bite fever (RBF) is a systemic bacterial illness caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis that can be acquired through the bite or scratch of a rodent or the ingestion of food or water contaminated with rat feces.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium: As its name suggests, it causes a typhoid-like disease in mice. In humans S. Typhimurium does not cause as severe disease as S. Typhi, and is not normally fatal. The disease is characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and nausea, and generally lasts up to 7 days. Unfortunately, in immunocompromized people, that is the elderly, young, or people with depressed immune systems, Salmonella infections are often fatal if they are not treated with antibiotics.

Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs.

Eosinophilic Meningitis: Eosinophilic meningitis is an infection of the brain occurring in association with an increase in the number of eosinophils, white blood cells that are associated with infection with worms that penetrate into the body. The organism most commonly causing eosinophilic meningitis is a rat lung worm called angiostrongylus cantonensis.

Information from:

http://www.orlandorats.com/diseases.htm 

http://www.cdc.gov

Green Sabah says: Previously on the article New Strategy to Reduce KK rats population, We have discussed about the City Hall Public Health's effort for reducing the rat population in the city, here we bring you some information regarding the various diseases that rats carries.

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New strategy to reduce KK rat population

Kota Kinabalu: City Hall is looking into a new strategy to reduce the rat population in the city.

"We are re-examining and re-thinking our previous and current strategies," said Mayor Abidin Madingkir who officiated at City Hall's first in-house training on rat control for its staff here, Wednesday.

According to him, the programme is a continuation of a rat control programme, which was launched by City Hall in June last year, as well as a list of other programmes.

Madingkir who said the programme is aimed at their office based staff also pointed on the fact that rats roam the whole universe.

"They can be found everywhere even as far as Europe and in big cities such as London.

Exterminating them from the face of the earth is not possible, but we can work towards reducing their population."

He added that due to their unhygienic nature, rats are known to cause a lot of health problems as well as household problems, among them being electrical wire damage.

"It seems like people are so used to seeing them here and are so used to them that they are not even bothered by their presence," he added.

The training is therefore vital in order to spread awareness and educate City Hall staff.

Madingkir said it is like nurturing a seed and watering it everyday until it grows into a plant.

"Methods used to control them do not depend only on the extermination of their habitat alone, but also in providing a clean environment in general. Apart from that, improper food storage and keeping leftover food encourages them to breed."

"Problems related to these rodents which are notorious in offices have led us to conduct this special training.

"The programme is conducted to give proper awareness on rat control in the workplace environment.

"Before this, the target was entrepreneurs especially those involved with food around the city."

He also highlighted the fact that the responsibility of rat control must not be carried by City Hall's vector control unit alone but should be taken seriously by all City Hall staff.

Some 40 participants were present including invited guest Amir Paduan D. Daniel from Labuan Corporation's Town Service Department.

City Hall's Head of Public Health Danny Kok said the rat menace in offices is caused by food thrown inside uncollected rubbish bins.

Source: http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=81295

Green Sabah says: Rats are still well-known carriers of over 70 diseases. From the transmission of bubonic plague to typhus and Hantavirus, rat infestations can prove harmful to human health.  One of the most dangerous rat-borne diseases is the bubonic plague and its variants. Transfer occurs when infested rats or rat fleas bite human beings. Symptoms include headache, weakness and coughing. Septicemic plague may result in bleeding into the skin and other organs. This fatal disease often kills within the same day that symptoms first appear.

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