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Friday, May 09, 2025
Outside the box.
New York City: Record-Breaking Human Leptospirosis Cases Linked to Rat Urine, City Seeks Solutions
New York City is experiencing a high number of human leptospirosis cases, a disease caused by contact with rat urine.
Six cases have been diagnosed in 2023, surpassing the 24 cases reported in the previous year.
Health officials believe the increase is due to an increasing rat population.
Leptospirosis can lead to severe health issues, including kidney failure and liver damage, if left untreated.
The text discusses an unnamed bacterial disease that is transmitted through animal urine or feces, contaminated water, or soil, causing symptoms such as fever, headaches, and chills.
New York City has a large population of brown rats, estimated to be around three million as of August 2023, which is nearly 50% more than a decade ago.
Rats are highly productive breeders, capable of producing up to 15,000 offspring per year.
The disease is spread when the bacteria come into contact with the eyes, mouth, nose, or breaks in the skin.
A year after New York City appointed its first "rat czar" to reduce the rat population, there has been an increase in leptospirosis infections.
In response, the City Council has proposed a new bill to use salty pellets that sterilize both male and female rats as part of a pilot program in rat mitigation zones.
The pellets would be deployed in areas covering at least ten city blocks.
Health officials believe the increase is due to an increasing rat population.
Leptospirosis can lead to severe health issues, including kidney failure and liver damage, if left untreated.
The text discusses an unnamed bacterial disease that is transmitted through animal urine or feces, contaminated water, or soil, causing symptoms such as fever, headaches, and chills.
New York City has a large population of brown rats, estimated to be around three million as of August 2023, which is nearly 50% more than a decade ago.
Rats are highly productive breeders, capable of producing up to 15,000 offspring per year.
The disease is spread when the bacteria come into contact with the eyes, mouth, nose, or breaks in the skin.
A year after New York City appointed its first "rat czar" to reduce the rat population, there has been an increase in leptospirosis infections.
In response, the City Council has proposed a new bill to use salty pellets that sterilize both male and female rats as part of a pilot program in rat mitigation zones.
The pellets would be deployed in areas covering at least ten city blocks.
