13 Hospitalized, One Dead as Rare Disease From Rat Urine Plague New York City

New York City is dealing with a rare bacterial disease carried by rat urine. So far this year, no fewer than 15 people have been infected, with about 13 admitted to hospitals and one dead. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, which can be transmitted from animals to people or vice versa. However, rats are usually responsible for this disease in New york city.