Weil’s disease

Weil’s disease, also called leptospirosis ictero haemorrhagica (because it's caused by infection with an agent called leptospira, it turns you yellow, or icteric, and it makes you bleed, or haemorrhage - hence the name) is spread by contact with the urine of infected rats. The germ responsible is one of a family called spirochaetes (the same family responsible for syphilis). It gains entry through breaks in the skin. While it used to be thought that the only people who were at risk were sewage workers exposed to high concentrations of rat urine, it is now appreciated that anybody who swims in water shared by rats (and which lake isn't?) may also contract the disease. Antibiotics are an effective treatment.
 
 
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