A rare 'tropical' disease that is fatal to humans and dogs is plaguing California homeless encampments.
Berkeley city sounded alarms on Monday by issuing a public health warning after two dogs in an encampment on Harrison Street tested positive for the bacterial disease leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is a blood infection 'rarely seen by doctors in the US' and is 'usually associated with tropical conditions,' per public health notice.
The bacteria is commonly spread by rats through their urine and feces that contaminates the soil, then gets picked up by humans and dogs.
Despite its rarity, the infection is often associated with homelessness and homeless encampments, UCSF Infectious Disease expert Dr Monica Gandhi told KTVU.
'As a result the unhoused are particularly affected,' Gandhi told the outlet.
The disease is usually asymptomatic, but if symptoms present it's usually 'flu-like in nature and can be treated with common antibiotics.'
Two dogs in an encampment on Harrison Street tested positive for the bacterial disease leptospirosis
A rare 'tropical' disease that is fatal to humans and dogs broke is plaguing California homeless encampments
Berkeley City officials are urging encampment residents to evacuate at least one-third out of the 'red zoned' area
Some symptoms include fever, red eyes, headache, and muscle aches and can lead to severe and potentially fatal symptoms, the notice said.
Berkeley City officials are urging encampment residents to evacuate at least one-third out of the 'red zoned' area as soon as possible.
'Immediate departure from these encampments will reduce risk to encampment residents and their dogs, and to the surrounding neighborhood,' per the notice.
As the city further investigates the spread, the notice said any RV in the encampment that is discovered to have rat infestations will be demolished.
This health crisis comes during a legal battle over the encampment, as officials tried to clear out the site in June, but homeless advocates pushed back, per SF Chronicle.
A federal judge then gave a temporary injunction, a court order that prevented the city from sweeping the area until disabled residents were placed elsewhere.
This health crisis comes during a legal battle over the encampment, as officials tried to clear out the site in June, but homeless advocates pushed back
People's Park in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Berkeley's Homeless Response Team began its activities in September 2021 after more than a year of neglect in the city's homeless camps
Attorney Anthony Prince, who is representing the homeless union, believes the city is using the bacterial outbreak as an excuse to evict residents, per the outlet.
He added that the filthy conditions worsened after officials removed a dumpster from the encampment.
As the public health investigation continues, clean up will take at least 30 days to eradicate the rat infestation and is also the length of time leptospirosis can live in soil.