Rats are notorious carriers of several zoonotic diseases. One of the most infamous is the Bubonic Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Rats carry fleas that harbor this bacterium, which can then be transmitted to humans. Another significant disease is Leptospirosis, caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, typically spread through contact with water contaminated by rat urine. Hantavirus is another critical pathogen, transmitted through inhalation of aerosolized particles from rat droppings, urine, or saliva.
