To go to the GP First thing?

[Sastra]

So today we discovered that our new (old and run down) office has a rat infestation. We've been in there about a week. As soon as the word was out, I got the hell out and thought nothing more of it. Now I'm getting really worked up about the idea I might have been exposed to Weil's disease, as I'm 25 weeks pregnant (can fetal death).

Symptoms don't start for 7-14 days following infection, so I could have been exposed. I don't know what the GP will do, but am now completely terrified I could have it.

I think YABU but if it would put your mind at rest then go to your GP

Don't panic. You won't get Weil's disease just from being in the same building as rats. You need to be in contact with rat urine and it needs to touch your mucous membranes (e.g. inside of nose or mouth). THis is why it is usually only caught by people who swim in rat-infested water and end up swallowing urine (nice).

There are about 60 million rats in the UK and only 70 cases of Weil's disease per year, most of which are contracted in rivers.

I think you're panicking.

The infection if caught, is usually through contact with contaminated water, and will enter the body through cuts or more rarely, through the mouth, eyes or nose.

It's very rare.

Ah okay - I didn't realise it was that rare! I was thinkinh they could have been running and weeing over the desks! Thank you, I feel better now.

Unless you have been licking your desk, I think you're safe

You are panicking over something that really is very very highly unlikely to happen. Rats are everywhere and you will have been in close contact with them many times without even knowing it.

It's great news that it is so rare!

Also I'm not sure exactly what they could do if you had been exposed..

You are probably panicking unnecessarily but I would still say to be careful with your hygiene while at work just to set your mind at rest.

My cousin died from Weil's Disease, so I do appreciate how concerned you must be, but it is rare and very unlikely that you would catch it, especially just from being in the building. My cousin was on a night out and drank straight from the bottles of beer he was buying, they suspect that one of them had rat urine on it and infected him through a cut on his gum. They told us at the time it was one of those one in a million chances and incredible bad luck.

Perhaps taking some antibacterial wipes to work and giving your dest etc an extra clean in a morning would set your mind at rest.

Tbh I understand the panicking thing, I do it too and I'm not even pg, like pp say it is very rare (we have pet rats and I worry about it). If it would settle your mind then got to the Gp, they might give you "the look" but hey whatever.

I'm pretty sure I read that it is transmitted in moist environments though, so muddy river banks, farming environments etc, it's not just rats urine apparently but other animals urine can carry it too.

NoOnesGoing :(