Rats in Boston are spreading a potentially deadly disease, research says
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The disease-causing bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments and are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can contaminate water or soil. They're found worldwide, but as temperatures rise due to climate change, they're becoming increasingly common in cooler areas, including the Northeast, said Marieke Rosenbaum, co-senior author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
Humans can contract the disease when infected water or soil gets into the
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Rosenbaum said it's hard to say how many people have been infected with the disease in Boston, as many don't get tested because they are asymptomatic or only receive a diagnosis if their illness is severe. But the study did track one human case of leptospirosis from 2018 in the city and found that it likely originated from a rat. The patient was hospitalized but ultimately recovered.
'There is a need for more awareness about this disease in this area, also among clinicians,' she said. 'A lot of times it's a disease that clinicians will test for in more extreme cases … but not everyone develops such serious illness.'
The paper is part of a larger project out of Tufts dubbed the
leptospirosis — one of the
'It's a really unique population of people that are at high risk for contact with rats,' Rosenbaum said. 'I hope this will raise some awareness about populations that could be targeted [with interventions], like people who are homeless or are engaged in outdoor injection drug use, in particular.'
In January, a
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Ariana Eggleston, the director of rat education for the
'Not only do you have to be careful, you also have to make sure your dog's feet are clean, you have to be hypervigilant,' Eggleston said, adding that many residents are 'exhausted' from mitigating their risk of catching other infectious diseases like
Eggleston said a lot of her work with the festival revolves around educating people in Allston-Brighton —
and other items that can attract rats.
Trash was strewn in front of 5 Ashford St. during the annual "Allston Christmas" in 2023.
John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
That may be the best bet against an expanding rodent population, experts said, even more so than using reactive measures like poison.
Last year, officials launched the
Advertisement
'There's a huge need for a concerted effort to sanitation,' Rosenbaum said, adding officials should focus on areas where humans have the most interactions with rodents. 'And ultimately, if we restrict their access to food and water, they won't be able to reproduce, and that will manage their populations.'
Dave Wagner, co-senior author of the study and executive director of the Pathogen and Microbiome Institute at Northern Arizona University, said establishing that local rat populations have their own strains of the disease could improve mitigation techniques.
Using information about distinct strains and populations, researchers tracked several rats that had migrated to other colonies, bringing their local strain of leptospirosis with them. That could mean common disruptions to rat populations, including construction, may lead to 'intermingling of rat populations' and increased, not decreased, leptospirosis spread, Rosenbaum said.
'We need to start shifting our approach from, 'Let's try and kill them and eradicate them,' to better understanding how to coexist with them. We're not ever going to eradicate them,' Rosenbaum said.
Wagner said he hopes the study, which was published in the Public Library of Science of Neglected Tropical Diseases, will help the public appreciate that the disease is becoming more prevalent worldwide.
'It's something we should be keeping an eye on,' he said.
Emily Spatz can be reached at
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Rats in Boston may be spreading potentially deadly disease, Tufts University study says
Tufts study says rats in Boston could be spreading potentially deadly disease Tufts study says rats in Boston could be spreading potentially deadly disease Tufts study says rats in Boston could be spreading potentially deadly disease Rats in Boston may be spreading a potentially deadly disease, according to a Tufts University study. The disease is called leptospirosis, which is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira. It is typically found in tropical areas, but a link has been found between rats and leptospirosis in other urban areas. Researchers worked on the study for six years, testing different brown rats from the Boston area, including the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common. They found that most rat populations in Boston carry the disease-causing bacteria, which can infect both humans and animals. Researchers warn that the disease's prevalence is expected to increase with climate change. Leptospirosis is typically spread through direct exposure to urine or a "urine-contaminated environment, which then can serve as an infection source for additional rats and other mammals, including humans," the study says. Leptospirosis can be spread through contact with water, soil, and eating food that has been contaminated with animal urine. The bacteria can survive in both water and soil for months. There are around one million cases of leptospirosis in humans around the world every year, and around 60,000 deaths, according to the CDC. Symptoms of leptospirosis Leptospirosis can be deadly if not treated, causing organ failure, trouble breathing, and death, the CDC says. Symptoms of the disease include: Fever Headache Chills Body aches Rash Diarrhea or vomiting Jaundice Red eyes Seek treatment immediately if you think you may have been infected with leptospirosis. Here are some recommended ways to prevent infection: Avoid contact with potentially infected animals Cover any open wounds, including cuts and scratches Wear waterproof clothing and shoes near floodwater or infected soil Research leptospirosis cases if you intend to go swimming A vaccine for leptospirosis is available in the United States for both cats and dogs. If you are concerned that your pet may have contracted the disease, visit the CDC website for more information.
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Rats in Boston are spreading a potentially deadly disease, research says
Advertisement The disease-causing bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments and are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can contaminate water or soil. They're found worldwide, but as temperatures rise due to climate change, they're becoming increasingly common in cooler areas, including the Northeast, said Marieke Rosenbaum, co-senior author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Humans can contract the disease when infected water or soil gets into the Advertisement Rosenbaum said it's hard to say how many people have been infected with the disease in Boston, as many don't get tested because they are asymptomatic or only receive a diagnosis if their illness is severe. But the study did track one human case of leptospirosis from 2018 in the city and found that it likely originated from a rat. The patient was hospitalized but ultimately recovered. 'There is a need for more awareness about this disease in this area, also among clinicians,' she said. 'A lot of times it's a disease that clinicians will test for in more extreme cases … but not everyone develops such serious illness.' The paper is part of a larger project out of Tufts dubbed the leptospirosis — one of the 'It's a really unique population of people that are at high risk for contact with rats,' Rosenbaum said. 'I hope this will raise some awareness about populations that could be targeted [with interventions], like people who are homeless or are engaged in outdoor injection drug use, in particular.' In January, a Advertisement Ariana Eggleston, the director of rat education for the 'Not only do you have to be careful, you also have to make sure your dog's feet are clean, you have to be hypervigilant,' Eggleston said, adding that many residents are 'exhausted' from mitigating their risk of catching other infectious diseases like Eggleston said a lot of her work with the festival revolves around educating people in Allston-Brighton — and other items that can attract rats. Trash was strewn in front of 5 Ashford St. during the annual "Allston Christmas" in 2023. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff That may be the best bet against an expanding rodent population, experts said, even more so than using reactive measures like poison. Last year, officials launched the Advertisement 'There's a huge need for a concerted effort to sanitation,' Rosenbaum said, adding officials should focus on areas where humans have the most interactions with rodents. 'And ultimately, if we restrict their access to food and water, they won't be able to reproduce, and that will manage their populations.' Dave Wagner, co-senior author of the study and executive director of the Pathogen and Microbiome Institute at Northern Arizona University, said establishing that local rat populations have their own strains of the disease could improve mitigation techniques. Using information about distinct strains and populations, researchers tracked several rats that had migrated to other colonies, bringing their local strain of leptospirosis with them. That could mean common disruptions to rat populations, including construction, may lead to 'intermingling of rat populations' and increased, not decreased, leptospirosis spread, Rosenbaum said. 'We need to start shifting our approach from, 'Let's try and kill them and eradicate them,' to better understanding how to coexist with them. We're not ever going to eradicate them,' Rosenbaum said. Wagner said he hopes the study, which was published in the Public Library of Science of Neglected Tropical Diseases, will help the public appreciate that the disease is becoming more prevalent worldwide. 'It's something we should be keeping an eye on,' he said. Emily Spatz can be reached at
