To risk (or am I risking) weils disease

[onlyoranges]

We recently moved and in the process have emptied a large shed in the garden. In it we realised were videos of our dcs and photos. We live in the countryside and clearly rats have been in there. My Mum died last year and my Dad the year before that and these photos are of them when my dcs were little and I know the videos will be the same. My dh is worried as rats have been in there we are risking weils disease by even handling them but these are such precious, precious irreplaceable things. I think I put them out there years ago and it’s not until you lose someone that you realise the true value of photos. There is also a box Of photos of my younger brother who killed himself 3 years ago of when he was little. I should have put them in albums. I should have put the dvds onto memory sticks but both my parents died very suddenly. But I should have done it. The thought that I have access to seeing my parents again breaks my heart. So do I risk it? Is the risk real? I don’t know much about the diesease and how it spreads? What would you do?

If you're worried about keeping them you could put on rubber gloves (the thin ones) then digitise the pics so they are stored on a computer. Back them up! Then clean the scanner, room etc.

Just wear gloves and wash thoroughly afterwards. I come into contact with rat urine for work (engineer on building site often in foundations/drains). I do this and haven’t managed to contract it in 20 odd years.

Were they in boxes? If they've been nibbled, could you put disposable gloves on and take photos of the photos? At least it would be better than losing them completely. If they were boxed & there's no sign of droppings/nibbling through boxes, the contents should be fine, I would dispose of the boxes though. Again, I would wear disposable gloves.

I work in a rat infested workplace also. Nobody has contracted this disease

Be cautious, but get those memories op

So sorry for your losses

This link has lots of info on it OP:
www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/water/advice/weils-disease/

There is also a contact number on there for advice.

I'm a vet. Leptospirosis is a fragile germ which dies if it dries. So people and animals get it from rat urine that hasn't dried out - generally via water. If the objects are dry and you wear gloves as advised, you should be fine. There is also a very small risk of hantavirus, so don't do the job if you are immunosuppressive and wear a mask if the shed is dusty, I'd suggest.

I think you should be fine, just wear gloves as pp have suggested. It sounds like these items are worth the risk
If you do come down with flu like symptoms in the following couple of weeks then go to the GP and make sure that you mention you've had contact with rat urine.