Ask a Healer Health Challenge Series

What is Leptosporosis? How do you get Leptosporosis?


by N J Howell

If you are like me, you've probably bought a canned drink at the convenience store many times. I have just grabbed one out of the cooler, popped the top and drank it.

Now, I would never do that because I know that those can tops may not be clean. In fact, they may have had rodents running over them at the warehouse. Ugggh.

Rat urine is implicated in a serious condition that is widely unknown, except for those unlucky enough to catch it. It's called leptospirosis and this article covers the dangers, symptoms and other health care information on the subject.

What is Leptospirosis? Health alert about bacterial threat from an unlikely source. Rat urine on soda cans posing serious health hazard

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira. People usually catch it through eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated but, as you will read in the story below, you can also catch it from drinking out of soda cans with bacteria on the lids.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of Leptospirosis vary from one person to the next but can include rashes, diarrhea, very bad headaches, chills and aching muscles, a high fever and red eyes. They may also develop jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin.

Can you die from this?

If untreated, Lepospirosis can lead to danger health challenges including respiratory distress, liver failure, kidney damage and more. Although it is rare for Leptospirosis to lead to death, if untreated, death is possible from this bacterial disease. Typically, this disease is treated with antibiotics.

I got this information from a friend of mine in Texas. I wanted to post it because although I used to routinely wipe off the tops of soda cans when I still drank sodas, I never washed them off.

The way warehouses are, at least the ones I have ever been in, it might be wise to always have hand saintizer to kill germs and then rinse off the top well before you drink ..... or, buy only bottled drinks ..... or, hey, I have a better idea. Stop drinking those empty calories altogether!

The story from Texas on Leptospirosis

In North Texas, a woman went boating on Sunday taking with her some cans of soda which she put into the refrigerator of the boat.

The next day, she was taken to the hospital and placed in the Intensive Care Unit. She died on Wednesday. The autopsy concluded she died of Leptospirosis. This was traced to the can of soda she drank from, not using a glass.

Tests showed that the can was infected by dried rat urine and hence caused her to contract the the disease Leptospirosis. Why rat urine is so dangerous: Rat urine contains toxic and deadly substances, including the Leptospira bacteria. Contagions on the can lids are quite possible since the soda cans are usually stocked in warehouses and transported straight to the stores without being cleaned.

Do you drink from your toilet? Drinking from an uncleaned can might be worse! A study at NYCU showed that the tops of soda cans are more contaminated than public toilets (i.e). . . . full of bacteria. So wash them with water before putting them to the mouth to avoid any kind of fatal accident.

My friend from Texas recommends doing the following when you first purchase your sodas from the store and take them home: Wipe the entire can with a mild solution of water and bleach before refrigerating them.

To learn more about Leptospirosis, visit The Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Health Disclaimer: Bacterial infections such as leptospirosis are serious and can be life-threatening. Therefore, don't rely on information gathered here or elsewhere for diagnosis. See your doctor. These articles on alternative health care and spiritual healing are not presented as replacement for seeing your doctor. Any action taken based on the contents found in this educational health information is at the sole discretion of the reader. Please consult with your chosen healthcare professional matters relating to your health and well-being.

Special note to pet owners: This bacterial infection is not unique to humans. Your dog can contract it too. There are vaccines for Leptospira interrogans sensu lato, which is the scientific name of the nasty little bug that causes this, so ask your vet for information on the vaccines that can at least address two of the bacterial strains, serovars canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae. Symptoms in dogs include vomiting so get help for your animal friend and rule out that serious health challenge if vomiting is present.

To make matters worse, you can even catch leptospirosis from your dog so please handle carefully if you know they are infected.