Just this week, a Boston cook at D & D Restaurant contracted a rare disease tied to rodents called leptospirosis.

Based on the CDC, Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases. Without treatment, Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death.

Although it is spread from animal to human, it cannot be spread from human to human. A man from New York who contracted the disease died in December 2016.

Although it's possible that the worker did not contract the rodent disease from the restaurant, Boston Inspection Services Department closed the restaurant for a brief time for further analysis, as they found 16 violations including evidence of rodents in the basement. The violations have now been resolved; and D & D Restuarant in Boston has re-opened.

The concern of this rare rodent illness comes after an exploding rodent population in the city of Boston. Homeowners are advised to keep rodents away from properties. Rodent control can be done by installing Rodent Fence Control or by applying rodent repellents in the yard.