Thursday, August 16, 2018

Rat Disease Epidemy in Israel

The Ministry of Health has forbidden the access to the Northern rivers because a dozen boys caught the rat disease, Leptospirosis. No, the boys did not turn into Splinter (pic) but it is to early to make a judgment.  When I was lecturing in hospitals and occupational safety groups, I used to emphasize that no sewage-related disease is recognized by the Social Security, except one:  Leptospirosis. Should anybody catch the disease, he/she/it is entitled to receive disability payments for life. No one ever claimed this benefit, because the disease was not present  in Israel. Now there is, but I doubt if the children will be able to claim occupational disability.

3 comments:

  1. Leish has been around in Israel since forever, mostly spread by the Jericho fly. Soldiers get it all the time.

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  2. I think you are confusing it with Shoshanat Yericho.

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    1. No, you are right. Thanks for the correction. I was talking about Leptospirosis. I am going to correct the post.

      Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by a spirochete, is often related to occupation. Humans are infected through contact with animal reservoirs or a contaminated environment (soil, sewage, or water). Several animal species (rats, mice, or hedgehogs) are natural reservoirs of the disease, while humans are a dead-end host. Leptospira icterohemorrhagica is transmitted by rats and is found in sewage water.

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