Rattus norvegicusOne of the main reasons rats and mice are important urban pests and therefore a target for rodent pest control is its being considered to be primary hosts of Leptospirosis, a water-borne bacterial disease that is more prevalent in tropical areas like the Philippines but has also become a global concern.

Leptospirosis grabbed headlines again after floods caused by tropical storm Washi hit two urban centers: Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City in the northern part of Mindanao, the southernmost island of the Philippine archipelago, last month. Eight fatalities of the 300 reported cases of Leptospirosis was already confirmed by Philippine government officials.

Humans are infected by Leptospirosis when the bacteria of the genus Leptospira enter the body through the eyes, nose or open wounds, or swallowed by persons wading or swimming in water contaminated with urine of infected rodents. Rise in incidence of Leptospirosis is associated with heavy rainfall and flooding. It is during this time that rat urine gets mixed with fresh water, and flooding increases contact of humans to contaminated water.

Over a thousand people have been confirmed dead and about half million people displaced by the floods, making Christmas 2011 season the saddest ever for Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City. These urban centers and surrounding areas are served by Bio-Tech Environmental’s Cebu branch for their pest control needs.

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