Deadly health warning issued as rat-infested rubbish could spread virus which triggers 'eye-bleeding' and organ failure ()
<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52847162%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3DkzPlheRpuH7" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p>Health experts have issued a deadly disease warning over the <a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/birmingham-bin-strikes-lee-anderson-council-pay-cuts-blistering-attack-bin-crisis" target="_blank">Birmingham bin crisis</a> - with rat-infested rubbish at risk of spreading a virus which triggers "eye-bleeding" and organ failure.</p><p>The UK's largest second city is facing a growing <a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/birmingham-bin-collections-health-environmental-hazard" target="_blank">public health crisis</a> as mountains of uncollected waste pile up across the city.</p><h3></h3><br/><p>The refuse has accumulated thanks to dispute between the local authority and the Unite union over plans to scrap the former's "Waste Recycling and Collection Officer" role.</p><p>And with temperatures soaring into the 20s, experts are warning the rotting waste could become <a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/birmingham-rats-attack-cars-chewing-cables-bin-collections-washwood-heath" target="_blank">a breeding ground for disease-carrying rats</a>.</p><p>The rodents are already running rampant through the city's streets as the strike continues.</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Swarm of rats" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c4a1ac9d9e73cfc8042e9ac081bd59dd" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="cf656" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/swarm-of-rats.jpg?id=50695481&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><p>"The issue is simply <a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/birmingham-rats-rubbish-bin-strikes" target="_blank">more rats</a>," warned Professor Malcolm Bennett, a zoonotic and emerging disease expert at the University of Nottingham.</p><p>Experts are particularly concerned about Weil's disease, a bacterial infection spread by rodents which can be fatal.</p><p>The disease causes fever, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, bleeding from the eyes and kidney failure.</p><p>Hantavirus is another deadly concern, with both diseases spread by infected rats in their urine.</p><p>"Both are excreted by infected but healthy rats in urine, and both can cause severe disease in people, and even death," Prof Malcolm explained.</p><p>Rats "urinate wherever they want as to mark territory," creating widespread contamination.</p><p><strong>LATEST ON BIRMINGHAM'S BIN CHAOS:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/birmingham-bins-collection-unite-strike-rats-city-council" target="_self">Bins on Birmingham street go uncollected for TEN weeks as council 'buries its head in the sand'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/birmingham-bin-strikes-rubbish-collection-local-resident" target="_self">Birmingham bin strikes: Meet the 74-year-old local forced to lug rubbish bags up hill for collection</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/birmingham-bin-strikes-councillors-firemen-rubbish-unions" target="_self">Birmingham councillors branded 'clueless' as firemen REFUSE to clear rubbish piling up on streets</a></li></ul><h3></h3><br/><img alt="A cat climbs over rubbish piled around an overflowing skip in Birmingham on March 17" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6baa976499835bd4d38b2208ef914aff" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="27743" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/a-cat-climbs-over-rubbish-piled-around-an-overflowing-skip-in-birmingham-on-march-17.jpg?id=59812804&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><p>Those at highest risk include rough sleepers and waste workers who have direct contact with rats.</p><p>The elderly, very young, and those with compromised immune systems face more severe outcomes if infected.</p><p>"Infections are more likely to cause more severe disease in those with other diseases, especially if those affect the immune system," Prof Malcolm said.</p><p>According to the UK Health Security Agency, England sees an average of 57 laboratory-confirmed cases and 89 probable cases of Weil's disease annually, with about two deaths per year.</p><p>Since 2012, only six confirmed cases of acute kidney injury due to hantavirus have been recorded.</p><p>But Professor Tom Solomon from The Pandemic Institute warns that "with an explosive increase in the rodent population, the potential risk goes up".</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Union members on the picket line in Birmingham" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="97bffa83bafb6472c4b2943aed98e37e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="0a58f" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/union-members-on-the-picket-line-in-birmingham.png?id=59813099&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-mostread"></div><p>Warmer weather can "drive rat breeding," further increasing disease risks, he said.</p><p>Talks to end the bin collectors' strike have been described as "productive," though issues remain unresolved.</p><p>A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: "We are looking forward to continuing with negotiations."</p><p>And reports of rats have already triggered bizarre protests - in one council meeting, a resident dressed as a rat questioned when streets would return to an "acceptable state".</p><p>There are also fears similar strikes could spread to six other areas including Brighton, Sheffield and Barnet in north London - all of which are struggling with equal pay claims, according to The Times.</p><p>Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also voiced his concerns about the situation.</p><p>"As the bin bags are piling up, we see rats and other vermin crawling around," he told Times Radio. </p><p>"That's not good for public health... I think this dispute has escalated way out of hand."</p><p>But for now, "what individuals can do is wash their hands and maintain good hygiene, including thinking about what they might bring in on their shoes", Prof Malcolm added.</p>
