Published on
updated on
Reading 3 min.
in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
October 11, 2024
After being attacked by an infected rat, a man in his forties died of leptospirosis. How to protect yourself from this disease? Dr Gérald Kierzek reveals his best advice to us.
In August 2024, a resident of the Presles district of Soissons (Aisne) died from leptospirosis after being bitten by a rat. If this disease is only fatal in 5 to 20% of cases, the forty-year-old had waited too long before consulting a doctor.
Man was attacked by a rat
It was in a neighborhood invaded by rats, in Soissons, in Aisne, that the man was attacked. According to The Unionhe was bitten by the rodent while kicking it.
“He was a friend of mine. His death scares me.”confides Kelly Thubé, a resident of the neighborhood, used to seeing rats everywhere around her building. “Often in the hall, on the ground floor. They are no longer afraid of men. Once my neighbor tried to sweep one away with a broom, he went into the cellars. It’s getting worse and worse.”
If the incident could have stopped there, the forty-year-old “delayed showing his injury to a doctor“. A time which allowed the bacteria to spread.
A local doctor, consulted a few days later, then decided to refer the injured man to the emergency room in Soissons. Unfortunately, the medical staff could do nothing: the man died shortly after from his infection (“there rat disease“, also called leptospirosis).
An exceptional case, confirmed by the Regional Health Agency (ARS).
“The deceased from Soisson was an isolated patient (with no other cases identified nearby)“, she explains.
Leptospirosis, a disease caused by bacteria
Several symptoms allow you to recognize the infection.
After incubation, four to ten days, the disease manifests itself in the majority of cases with signs resembling the flu.
“The illness begins with a high fever with chills, headache, muscle aches and diffuse joint pain. It can also progress to kidney, liver, meningeal or pulmonary damage.“, indicates the Pasteur Institute.
In 20% of cases, severe forms are accompanied by hemorrhage.
In the most serious cases, acute renal failure may occur, accompanied by neurological damage (convulsions, coma) and more or less significant pulmonary or digestive hemorrhages. More rarely, ocular complications (uveitis, keratitis) may appear in the long term. The majority of infected people do not suffer any after-effects.
As for treatments, antibiotics (amoxicillin, cephalosporin and cyclins) are often prescribed. Severe forms require hospitalization.
In France, leptospirosis has no longer been subject to mandatory reporting since 1986, but remains under surveillance. There is a vaccine against the type of bacteria most frequently involved for professionals (sewer workers, veterinarians).
Worldwide, leptospirosis causes more than a million cases per year, including 60,000 deaths.
Several good reflexes help prevent the spread of the infection, believes Dr. Gérald Kierzek. But we must act quickly!
- “Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and disinfect thoroughly with an antiseptic“, he advises;
- Then “consult a doctor quickly (prophylactic antibiotic therapy) and check your vaccination status (tetanus and prophylaxis)” ;
- Finally, “sMonitor the wound in the days following the bite and consult again if signs of infection or general symptoms appear (fever, joint pain, headache)”, underlines the doctor.
How to protect yourself from leptospirosis?
Still according to the medical director of Doctissimo, it is possible to protect yourself from leptospirosis with:
- Appropriate protections (boots, gloves, overalls) “during risky activities such as working in wet areas or practicing water sports” ;
- Proper shoes “Do not go barefoot or wear open sandals on muddy ground or in standing water” ;
- Wound protection “with waterproof dressings. Wounds which must then be disinfected after exposure to a potentially contaminated environment” ;
- Effective hand washing“especially after contact with animals or fresh water” ;
- Avoidance of swimming “In particular, in murky or muddy waters, particularly after heavy rain” ;
- A vaccine for very exposed people “particularly among certain professionals and athletes“.
Slide: These forgotten diseases that are making a comeback