In reply to Post #13
//5. From a cigarette that may have fallen to the ground or by smoking a cigarette from packet left on the ground where a rat may have passed urine under or on the packet overnight or while you were away from your swim.
...... that even after they are dead their potential for harm lives on in the urine they have deposited.//
Good advice this.
A chap who fishes my local pond contracted weils diesease after picking up a dead rat during a work party. It was thought it was passed on because he smoked roll-up cigarettes.
As per Ken, he was at deaths door for a while and lost a fair bit of weight in the process.
//5. From a cigarette that may have fallen to the ground or by smoking a cigarette from packet left on the ground where a rat may have passed urine under or on the packet overnight or while you were away from your swim.
...... that even after they are dead their potential for harm lives on in the urine they have deposited.//
Good advice this.
A chap who fishes my local pond contracted weils diesease after picking up a dead rat during a work party. It was thought it was passed on because he smoked roll-up cigarettes.
As per Ken, he was at deaths door for a while and lost a fair bit of weight in the process.
In reply to Post #50
its not only rats that can carry it either...cattle can too..
hygeine is the best preventative
its not only rats that can carry it either...cattle can too..
hygeine is the best preventative
In reply to Post #51
I went to my local water today - rats everywhere - i dont think i could handle doing a night on the place if it is this bad with the bloody things
I went to my local water today - rats everywhere - i dont think i could handle doing a night on the place if it is this bad with the bloody things
In reply to Post #45
glad to hearyour ok now ken
we got rats the size of greyhounds on our local pit
im going fishing with a protective suit from now on 
glad to hearyour ok now ken
we got rats the size of greyhounds on our local pit
im going fishing with a protective suit from now on
good to hear you've recovered, invaluble advice too
I heard that the disease is only in the water for about 30 seconds after a rat has urinated. Is this true? 
In reply to Post #55
Cheers for the alert on this disease Ken and glad to hear you've fully recovered. Just thought I'd give you guys a medical discription from a link I found on google. Hope it helps.
'' Weil's disease is an infection that humans can catch from rats. Rats carry and excrete an organism called Leptospira ictero-haemorrhagiae in their urine. Between 50 and 60% of all rats carry this organism. If humans are infected with this organism, it can make them very ill and even result in death. As many as 10% of all cases of human infection have resulted in death.
Previously, Weil's disease only infected people such as sewage or abattoir workers, although there have also been incidents of farm workers and miners contracting the disease. New research shows that people who perform water activities, such as cavers and potholers, are also at risk. Rats commonly live near water and other areas where they can find food, such as farms, stables and riverbanks. The organism that causes Weil's disease in humans cannot live for very long in dry conditions, but it can survive for some length in wet or damp areas. Salt water will kill off the organism.
The organism that causes Weil's disease enters the body through cuts, blisters or abrasions in the skin. It can also enter via the lining of the nose or through the throat or alimentary tract. Weil's disease begins with a fever, followed by muscular aches and pains. Loss of appetite and vomiting follow. The incubation period for Weil's disease is 7 to 13 days.
The sufferer may experience bruising of the skin, nose bleeds, sore eyes and jaundice. The fever lasts about a week and is usually followed by significant deterioration. The symptoms of Weil's disease can easily be mistaken for flu. If the sufferer has a clean occupation, the possibility of Weil's disease may be overlooked in the early stages, but a blood test will confirm the diagnosis of Weil's disease. Treatment for Weil's disease is usually a penicillin antibiotic.
Weil's disease is curable if detected in time. Many doctors in urban areas many not be familiar with the disease. If you have any reason to suspect that you have been infected, you should alert your doctor as soon as possible. ''
Cheers for the alert on this disease Ken and glad to hear you've fully recovered. Just thought I'd give you guys a medical discription from a link I found on google. Hope it helps.
'' Weil's disease is an infection that humans can catch from rats. Rats carry and excrete an organism called Leptospira ictero-haemorrhagiae in their urine. Between 50 and 60% of all rats carry this organism. If humans are infected with this organism, it can make them very ill and even result in death. As many as 10% of all cases of human infection have resulted in death.
Previously, Weil's disease only infected people such as sewage or abattoir workers, although there have also been incidents of farm workers and miners contracting the disease. New research shows that people who perform water activities, such as cavers and potholers, are also at risk. Rats commonly live near water and other areas where they can find food, such as farms, stables and riverbanks. The organism that causes Weil's disease in humans cannot live for very long in dry conditions, but it can survive for some length in wet or damp areas. Salt water will kill off the organism.
The organism that causes Weil's disease enters the body through cuts, blisters or abrasions in the skin. It can also enter via the lining of the nose or through the throat or alimentary tract. Weil's disease begins with a fever, followed by muscular aches and pains. Loss of appetite and vomiting follow. The incubation period for Weil's disease is 7 to 13 days.
The sufferer may experience bruising of the skin, nose bleeds, sore eyes and jaundice. The fever lasts about a week and is usually followed by significant deterioration. The symptoms of Weil's disease can easily be mistaken for flu. If the sufferer has a clean occupation, the possibility of Weil's disease may be overlooked in the early stages, but a blood test will confirm the diagnosis of Weil's disease. Treatment for Weil's disease is usually a penicillin antibiotic.
Weil's disease is curable if detected in time. Many doctors in urban areas many not be familiar with the disease. If you have any reason to suspect that you have been infected, you should alert your doctor as soon as possible. ''
In reply to Post #55
I heard that the disease is only in the water for about 30 seconds after a rat has urinated. Is this true?
No, it's NOT true. The bacteria can last indefinitely in wet or damp conditions. It is only destroyed by being dried out by direct sunlight
Don't forget, it can last on wet slings, sacks and nets too so don't think you are safe just because you are not by the lakeside
I heard that the disease is only in the water for about 30 seconds after a rat has urinated. Is this true?
No, it's NOT true. The bacteria can last indefinitely in wet or damp conditions. It is only destroyed by being dried out by direct sunlight
Don't forget, it can last on wet slings, sacks and nets too so don't think you are safe just because you are not by the lakeside
Ken,excellent thread
In reply to Post #58
The most positive solution to avoid getting weils disease is to get a vaccination from your local GP. As far as i'm aware it'll cost a couple of pennies but it's better than possibly kicking the bucket!
The most positive solution to avoid getting weils disease is to get a vaccination from your local GP. As far as i'm aware it'll cost a couple of pennies but it's better than possibly kicking the bucket!
In reply to Post #59
As far as I am aware there is no human vaccine.
As far as I am aware there is no human vaccine.
In reply to Post #60
Because of my work being in and around water i'm required to have a vaccination. Will check if it covers Weils disease. Pretty sure it does. Will find out as soon as back at work.
Right then, checked with work and I was wrong the vaccination does not cover weils disease. Sorry i should of checked before.
Because of my work being in and around water i'm required to have a vaccination. Will check if it covers Weils disease. Pretty sure it does. Will find out as soon as back at work.
Right then, checked with work and I was wrong the vaccination does not cover weils disease. Sorry i should of checked before.
i carry a bottle of hand gel (simalar to the stuff outside hospital wards) 'cos you can never be to carefull. ive lost count how many times ive seen somone catch a fish, release it, wash their hands in the lake and carry on making a cup of tea. this stuff only cost me about £3 from Tesco. well worh the money
In reply to Post #62
The commercially available gels are OK but if you know anyone in the medical profession this is the stuff you want. You may even be able to persuade your GP to get a few bottles for you if you tell him that you are at risk of catching Weil's when you are fishing.
The commercially available gels are OK but if you know anyone in the medical profession this is the stuff you want. You may even be able to persuade your GP to get a few bottles for you if you tell him that you are at risk of catching Weil's when you are fishing.
In reply to Post #64
My missus works in a pharmacy will she be able to order it?????????
My missus works in a pharmacy will she be able to order it?????????