Human activities attract rats to reservoirs

LEPTOSPIROSIS was never heard of until about 10 years ago. Infections and even death resulting from leptospirosis have become frequent in recent years. So far, leptospirosis has only occurred in individuals who came into contact with water in areas contaminated by rat urine, which carries the bacteria that cause the disease, or consumed food containing rat urine.

Reported cases of leptospirosis have so far been associated with isolated riverine areas. Although leptospirosis is water-borne, we are fortunate that there has been no major outbreak of the disease.