BY: DYA HASSAN

A leading Malaysian epidemiologist stated that the main contributing factor to the breeding of rats is the availability of an abundance of food waste in the country and therefore there was a need to address food wastage.

Rat urine can cause leptospirosis which is an illness caused by an infection with the bacteria Leptospira and symptoms include fever, myalgias, headache, dry cough, nausea and vomiting and joint and bone aches.

A major source of leptospirosis is outdoor parks, as rodents are not the only one present but many wild animals as well which might carry the illness and contaminate water sources in the vicinity of these areas.

These include dogs, cattle, sheep, pigs and horses but the most important animal associated with human infection is the commonly found brown rat and people risk contamination and infection by them.

Prevention is the key and people on a holiday should choose recreational areas that are well maintained and operators should keep surrounding areas clean and free from rats as well as other pests.

There should also be monitoring of staff and workers and visitors and tourists to outdoor parks to ensure that they do not have signs and symptoms of leptospirosis and if they show any indication they should be taken to hospital immediately.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher