Leptospirosis Cases Reach Record High in New York City
A concerning increase in the number of leptospirosis cases has been reported in New York City, with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene warning that this year is on track for another all-time high. The life-threatening bacterial infection, spread through rat urine, sickened a record number of people in the city last year.
Leptospirosis symptoms include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and cough. If left untreated, the infection can lead to severe complications such as kidney failure, liver damage, jaundice, and potentially death. The bacteria that causes leptospirosis infect rats, which then shed the bacteria in their urine. Humans can become infected through direct contact with open wounds or mucous membranes.
Despite efforts to control the rat population in the city, including Mayor Eric Adams’ initiative of using birth control in the form of salty pellets, leptospirosis cases continue to rise. The pandemic saw a significant increase in cases, with the number jumping from an average of three annually to 24 cases in 2022.
Clinicians have been advised by the health department to be vigilant for leptospirosis cases and to treat them with common oral antibiotics for mild cases and intravenous doses for severe cases. While human-to-human transmission of the infection is rare, most cases in New York City are found in men, with a median age of 50. The Bronx saw the highest number of cases, followed by Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
The rise in cases may be attributed to climate change, which is causing excessive rain and unseasonably warm temperatures. New York City is not the only city facing leptospirosis cases, as doctors in the Netherlands also reported a case linked to contaminated rodent urine.
As the city continues to combat the spread of leptospirosis, residents are urged to take precautions to avoid exposure to rat urine and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms of the infection.
