"There has long been a persistent and potentially dangerous homeless encampment at Harrison and Eighth streets in Berkeley, one which occupies about three whole city blocks. But the level of potential danger there has just escalated to DEFCON One, as the Chronicle reports that encampment is now the site of an outbreak of a deadly disease called leptospirosis, a tropical disease that is not common in the US, which has killed two dogs at the encampment, and could potentially spread to and kill humans as well."
""The absence of confirmed human cases is reassuring but does not remove the risk of undiagnosed cases or future cases," Berkeley Public Health Officer Noemi Doohan said in a court filing and subsequent public health alert. "If a human case were confirmed, that would elevate the urgency of the recommended response to protect human life and other animal life in the city of Berkeley." And so the City of Berkeley is recommending that all encampment residents clear the red zone shown in the map above, allowing public health officials to clean and disinfect the area."
A leptospirosis outbreak is occurring at a longstanding homeless encampment at Harrison and Eighth streets in Berkeley that spans about three city blocks. Two dogs at the encampment have died from the disease, and testing has confirmed spread among local rats, which are the main transmission vector. Leptospirosis can cause kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory difficulty, and death. No confirmed human cases exist yet, but the risk of undiagnosed or future cases remains. The city is urging encampment residents to clear a designated red zone for cleaning and disinfection and advising pet vaccination.
Read at sfist.com
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