Summary
A Northland woman in her 70s is raising awareness about rat bite fever (RBF) after being hospitalized for the illness five years ago, despite trapping rats for over 30 years. She contracted RBF after briefly touching a live rat with her bare thumb while trying to secure it and immediately washed her hands and applied antiseptic cream afterward. Her experience highlights the importance of understanding the risks associated with handling rodents, especially as winter approaches and pest control measures increase.
