World's first human case of rat disease found in Hong Kong

[Maverick]

A Hong Kong man has developed the world's first ever human case of the rat version of the hepatitis E virus, according to new research from one of the city's leading universities.

There had previously been no evidence the disease could jump from rats to humans, the University of Hong Kong said Friday, warning the discovery had "major public health significance".

"This study conclusively proves for the first time in the world that rat HEV can infect humans to cause clinical infection," the university added.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-world-human-case-rat-disease.html

 

[KateMTx]

I love science but so much of it is this kind of scary stuff - part of why I'm trying to get prepared.

 

[tmttactical]

Did the disease jump (rat bite, touch, droppings ) or did this person EAT a diseased rat? Some folks in China have strange diets.

 

[lonewolf]

fairly old news.