Rat Bite Fever: Deadly Rat-Borne Disease is Spreading Quickly in the US

Health officials from many states (including Texas) want to warn citizens about a dangerous bacterium strain carried by rats across the country.

The mortality rate without medical care might be Symptoms usually develop 3 to 10 days after coming into contact with the bacterium that causes RBF in most people. Fever, joint discomfort, vomiting, headache, muscular soreness, and a rash are common symptoms. However, if the illness worsens, problems such as pneumonia, liver infection, and meningitis are possible.

Scientific investigations show that "Historically, laboratory personnel and the impoverished have been the victims of rat-bite fever. However, as rats have grown more popular as pets, this has altered to the point that youngsters now account for more than half of all cases in the US, followed by laboratory staff and pet store employees as high as 13%.

RBF Action

Humans may benefit from animals in a variety of ways. Many individuals have regular interactions with animals, both at home and away from home. People worldwide rely on animals for food, fiber, livelihoods, travel, sport, friendship, and education. In the United States, millions of families have one or more pets. Animals may contact us in urban or rural settings, during travel, at animal displays, or when participating in outdoor activities.

Animals, on the other hand, can occasionally carry dangerous bacteria that can transfer to humans and cause illness; these are known as zoonotic illnesses or zoonoses.

Viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi are all responsible for zoonotic diseases. These viruses may cause various conditions in humans and animals, ranging from minor to severe, and even death. Depending on the zoonotic illness, animals might seem healthy even though they harbor germs that can make people sick.

Both in the United States and across the world, zoonotic illnesses are fairly frequent. According to scientists, more than 6 out of every ten recognized infectious diseases in humans are transferred by animals, and animals carry 3 out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in humans.

As a result, the CDC works around the clock to safeguard humans in the United States and throughout the world against zoonotic illnesses.

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