Vancouver Rat Project
What is the project about?
Our goal is to understand rats in the
Downtown Eastside and to find out what
diseases they carry.
Rat Zoonoses
What are zoonoses?
Zoonoses, or zoonotic diseases, are any
infectious disease that may be
transmitted from animals to humans.
What animals carry zoonoses?
Many animals can carry zoonoses,
including cattle, cats, dogs, birds and rats.
Why are rat zoonoses being studied?
There has been little to no research on
Canadian rats, the diseases they carry,
and how they might affect public health.
This means we really have no idea if rats
pose a health threat to people!
It is important to understand rats and to
find out which diseases they carry, so we
can know whether rats pose a health
threat for people and what can be done to
reduce that threat.
Once we understand rats and their
diseases, we will be able to design
targeted rat control programs and alert
doctors and nurses to the health risks
associated with rats.
What zoonoses are being studied?
We will be looking for the following
bacteria and viruses:
 Seoul hantavirus
 Hepatitis E Virus
 Yersina pestis
 Leptospira interrogans
 Rickettsia typhi
 Strepobaccilus moniliformis
 Bartonella elizabethae
 Salmonella sp.
 Campylobacter sp.
 Escherichia coli
 Staphylococcus aureus
What are the symptoms of these
zoonoses?
Occasionally, zoonoses can cause more
severe diseases.
 Seoul hantavirus may cause
severe heart and kidney disease.
 Yersina pestis (the bacteria that
causes the plague) causes lymph
nodes to swell up and blood
poisoning (presence of bacteria in
bloodstream).
 Rickettsia typhi causes a red rash
or even a really high fever..
 E.Coli, Campylobacter, and
Salmonella can cause food
poisoning, diarrhea and other
infections.
 Staphylcoccus aureus can cause
skin infections.
How could I get a disease from a rat?



By being bitten by a rat
By being bitted by a flea that has
fed on an infected rat
By coming into contact with rat
poop or rat urine
By inhaling dust containing rat
urine or feces.
By coming into contact with water
(e.g., puddles or ponds) containing
rat urine or feces.
By ingesting food or water
contaminated by rats
Most zoonoses will have non-specific flulike symptoms such as:
 Fevers
 Headaches
 Muscle and join pains
 Chills
 Tiredness
 Nausea
 Diarrhea
 Vomiting
Am I at risk?
Because so many zoonoses share similar
symptoms to the common flu, they are
very difficult to diagnose.
For most people, risk of getting these
diseases is low. People who are already
sick or have a weakened immune system



and people who are often exposed to rats
are more likely to become infected.
What’s the Vancouver Rat Project going
to do?
We are going to find out what diseases
are carried by rats in the Downtown
Eastside. This will help us to find ways to
monitor and reduce health risks
associated with rats.
If you have any questions or concerns
Please contact us
at:
604-347-9664
Or
vancouverratproject@gmail.com
You can also direct your questions to the
following personnel:
VANDU Project Adivosry Committee
Members:
Marlene, Kevin, Rick, Charlie and Annette
Vancouver Rat Project
Zoonotic Disease Information Brochure