Birmingham’s rubbish crisis risks spread of killer rat viruses that trigger eye-bleeding and organ failure, experts warn

WARMER weather could transform Birmingham’s rat-infested rubbish piles into deadly health hazards, experts warn.

As mounds of rotting waste pile up on the streets and temperatures soar to 21C, the city risks becoming a hotbed for deadly diseases, some so severe they can cause eye-bleeding and organ failure.

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A plague of rodents are running rampant in the city after industrial action by refuse workers - who are unhappy about pay and job cuts - has seen mountains of uncollected waste piling high across the city.

"The issue is simply more rats," Prof Malcolm Bennett, a zoonotic and emerging disease expert from the University of Nottingham, told Sun Health.

"And how far they might travel from the rubbish sites - and how far the transmission amongst rats might also travel," he added.

A particular concern is Weil’s disease (leptospirosis), a bacterial infection spread by rodents that tragically claimed the life of Olympic rowing gold medallist Andy Holmes.

He contracted the disease over a decade ago, during a 26-mile sculling marathon.

People can contract Weil's disease from freshwater - such as water from a river - containing infected urine gets in their mouth, eyes or a cut.

Most people who catch the condition will have no symptoms or only experience mild flu-like symptoms.

However, some - like Andy - can get seriously ill, and be left with severe headaches, jaundice, internal bleeding and organ failure.

Also on the radar is Seoul virus - a hantavirus - also spread by rats - that killed Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa in March.

It causes fever, abdominal pain, and severe symptoms like bleeding from the eyes, leading to kidney failure.

"Both are excreted by infected but healthy rats in urine, and both can cause severe disease in people, and even death," Prof Malcolm says.

The main issue is that they "urinate wherever they want as to mark territory" the professor explains.

"In the short term this risk would be particularly for those who either have to deal with this waste or, for example, sleep rough and so have more contact with rats," he said

"Whereas in the longer term, it could lead to a larger and more infected and infectious rat population that once the rubbish piles are cleared, will have to go somewhere," he added.

Meanwhile, talks to end the bin collectors' strike in Birmingham have been described as "productive."

Unite members walked out last month over pay and job concerns, causing rubbish to pile up in the city.

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After a series of meetings, a Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: "The talks with Unite were productive, but there are still a number of issues to resolve.

"We are looking forward to continuing with negotiations."

Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed concern on Tuesday about the growing public health risk.

“As the bin bags are piling up, we see rats and other vermin crawling around,” he told Times Radio.

“That’s not good for public health. I think this dispute has escalated way out of hand.”

During public questions at a council meeting, a resident dressed as a rat asked Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment, when the rat population would decline and when streets would return to an "acceptable state".

Majid said he understood and sympathised with residents' frustrations and that was why a major incident was declared.

It is feared similar bin strikes could spread to six other areas of the country

It could also happen in Brighton, Sheffield and Barnet in north London, as councils grapple with the fallout from equal pay claims, according to The Times.  

'Explosive increase'

Prof Malcolm said that both diseases can be more severe in certain groups.

He said: "Infections are more likely to cause more severe disease in those with other diseases, especially if those diseases affect the immune system.

"The immune system might also be less able to handle infections in the elderly or very young."

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According to the UK Health Security Agency, there were, on average, 57 laboratory-confirmed cases and 89 probable cases of Weil’s disease annually from 2020 to 2023 in England. And on average two deaths per year.

Since 2012, there have been six confirmed cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) due to hantavirus infection, all linked to exposure to wild or pet rats.

Professor Tom Solomon, director of The Pandemic Institute in Liverpool, said his biggest concern for rat-related infection in Birmingham was hantaviruses.

"To date we have only had a small number of cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by hantaviruses in the UK," he also told Sun Health.

"However, with an explosive increase in the rodent population, the potential risk goes up.”

Doctors already on the lookout for people with symptoms

Prof Malcolm said warmer weather can also "drive rat breeding" which would only increase the risk of the disease in Birmingham.

Rat populations can grow extremely quickly.

The rodents become sexually mature at two months old and give birth every three weeks to between six and 12 babies.

"The more rats there are, the more chance of transmission between rats, and from rats, there is, through direct and indirect contact," he said.

Doctors in the city are likely already "on the lookout" for people with clinical signs and symptoms associated with rat-borne diseases, he added.

"What individuals can do is wash their hands and maintain good hygiene, including thinking about what they might bring in on their shoes," he warned.