A dead rat was found in a police officer’s breakfast during the ‘Bengaluru Bandh’ protest

During the ‘Bengaluru Bandh’ protest started by Karnataka farmers and organizations against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, one of the policemen on security duty found a dead rat in the breakfast pack served to them.

After the incident took place, the Joint Commissioner of Police asked Yeshwantpur police to inquire about the hotel that had provided food to the police officer and a notice was issued to the owner of the hotel.

Now, one must understand that if rats get into your food or even the slightest exposure to rats can lead to a number of serious problems that have the potential to pose a significant health risk.

Diseases caused by rats

Hanta virus

• Common symptoms of hantavirus appear within 1 to 5 weeks and include mainly fatigue, fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain.

• Hantavirus can cause lung congestion, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and difficulty breathing.

Lymphocytic chorio-meningitis

• It is a neurological disease caused by rodents and early symptoms include headache, fatigue, vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle aches and fever.

• The disease mostly affects the brain, causing inflammation of the meninges, a membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

The plague

• Mice are a factor in increasing this disease. There are different types of plague such as bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic, all of which are caused by Yersinia Pestis bacteria.

• Their symptoms vary depending on the type and affect the immune system, blood system and lungs.

Salmonella

• This particular disease occurs in the digestive tract of some rats.

• Symptoms include chills, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and hence the risk of contracting salmonella from consuming contaminated food.

First Published: 27 Sep 2023, 11:59 IST