Leptospirosis: a disease which you should be aware of because it’s one which can spread from animals to humans. One of its hosts being rats. Yes, you heard me right, Rats! And the scary part is they carry all sorts of disease spreading germs, and Leptospirosis is one such disease which we can get from them. Leptospirosis is not a disease that people talk about. But it's the most common animal’s spread to humans in the world. It spreads through rodents in weak sanitation areas, farmlands, and even in back to the wilderness adventure sports on land or water.

It spreads from the urinary shedding of rats and mice. Contaminated water in contact with scratched skin or mucous membrane causes infection. Eyes, nose, mouth is all potential sites of entry. The infection spreads through infected water, food, mud, soil, tissue shedding'. It also spreads through

• infected rodent bites
• through airborne droplets of body fluids of diseased rats
• through the placenta during pregnancy

The contributing organism is a bacteria called Leptospira. The problem is that Leptospira can survive up to 16 days in freshwater and 24 days in soil. That’s shocking! Rats can spread this disease to other animals. Leptospira can infect 160 different kinds of mammals, including cats, dogs, swine, raccoons, cattle, and mongoose. So livestock and domestic animals need to be kept safe from rodents too.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis include

• Fever, rigor
• Headache, photophobia, pain behind the eyes
• Muscle pain and pain in the calf
• Redness of conjunctiva
• Nausea vomiting diarrhea
• Severe symptoms involve liver kidney and can be; life-threatening. Jaundice, low urine output is warning signs of involvement of liver and kidney.

Now, are you ready to get rid of this problem?

In our village home, these creatures went up to our  second-floor room and scared me. I couldn't sleep with the lights off. I cried every time I saw them. But complaining was not fruitful. I needed help. My  friendly neighbour who was facing a similar rat problem, told me about using HIT Rat Glue Pad. Her advice saved me from the grave risk of infections and whatnots.

What can you do to stay safe at home?

1. Leptospirosis classically spreads in places prone to flooding from infected rodents. In urban regions, they may cause infection through infected mice infestations. They can hide in small crevices and contaminate surfaces.
2. Keep food material in metal or glass containers. Always give food preparation surfaces a proper cleanup before starting on your preps
3. Always seal up cracks, crevices holes in doorways, and around your homes.
4. Always use a metal dustbin outdoors with a lid if prone to rat infestation. Rodents can chew through plastic.
5. Use HIT Rat Glue Pad in areas round your refrigerator, near your gas cylinder, your pantry door, in areas where rats enter or exit. These easy to use nontoxic sticky pads help you catch rats easily.

Article By: Dr. Amrita Basu