He was bitten by a rat and died a few days later

At the beginning of last August, a man in his forties died at the Amiens hospital center after contracting leptospirosis according to L’Union. This bacterial disease, most often carried by rats, is nevertheless considered by the Pasteur Institute to be “often benign” for humans.

The drama unfolded in a district of Soissons, in Aisne, invaded by rats. The victim is a resident in his forties whose death stunned his neighbors and friends. According to our colleagues, this man was bitten by a rat while kicking it.

“Fatal “in 5 to 20% of cases”

Considering that the injury caused was not that serious, the forty-year-old only went to see his doctor a few days later. Seeing the wound and considering the circumstances explained by his patient, the doctor immediately sent him to the emergency services of Soissons hospital.

The man was then transferred to the Amiens hospital center after confirmation that he had indeed contracted leptospirosis. It was there that he died, at the end of August. Although complications are rare in humans contaminated by this bacterial disease, the Pasteur Institute nevertheless specifies that leptospirosis can “lead to renal failure” and thus prove fatal “in 5 to 20% of cases”.

However, this disease worries health authorities enough for proven cases to be subject to mandatory reporting since August 24, 2023. In fact, the mode of transmission of leptospirosis, by direct or indirect contact with the infected animal (via water for example), could lead to the outbreak of an epidemic. And if we ignore the mortality rate linked to leptospirosis in France, where around 600 people are infected each year, it is 6% worldwide for “more than a million” serious forms diagnosed according to Public Health France .