Mass Media is already planting stories on unknown viruses found in NYC rats

Thank your for the 4*



Last Edited by ERE3 on 10/20/2014 03:31 AM

I found the first report of it and it's about rat mites that carry the pathogens. Interestingly, in this report, they really play it down. I have never tracked a story from it's fist lead but I'm seeing as time goes on, the media makes the story worse.

[link to nymag.com]

"Can rat mites spread all those gross rat diseases?
Luckily, no — or at least, not yet. According to Pando, no cases of rat mites spreading diseases to humans have ever been documented, but "scientists have been able to facilitate rat-mite-to-human disease transmission in a lab, so better leave New York and all your dreams and ambitions behind now just to be safe."

Here's the original article from the researchers...

[link to mbio.asm.org]
"To begin to explore the zoonotic disease risk posed by urban rat populations, we trapped and surveyed Norway rats collected in New York City over a 1-year period. This analysis revealed a striking diversity of known pathogens and novel viruses in our study population, including multiple agents associated with acute gastroenteritis or febrile illnesses in people. Our findings indicate that urban rats are reservoirs for a vast diversity of microbes that may affect human health and indicate a need for increased surveillance and awareness of the disease risks associated with urban rodent infestation. "

Rat Doom!
Guanarito virus in the incubator.