The 8-million-strong human population of New York City is matched, if not exceeded, by the city's number of rodent dwellers. Fortunately, the two populations don't mingle all that often.
But that could change as storm waters from Hurricane Sandy flood rats out of their underground residences, according to Rick Ostfeld of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Milbrook, N.Y.
"Rats are incredibly good swimmers," said Ostfeld. "And they can climb."
In other words, Sandy is unlikely to knock off the resilient rodents, but rather displace them.
According to Ostfeld, this could result in increased risk of infectious diseases carried by urban rats, including leptospirosis, hantavirus, typhus, salmonella, and even the plague.
"One of things we know can exacerbate disease is massive dispersal," he added. "Rats are highly social individuals and live in a fairly stable social structure. If this storm disturbs that, rats could start infesting areas they never did before."
And it's not only the bite of a rat than can transmit disease. Rodent feces and urine can spread hantavirus, for example. Still, Ostfeld suggested that the huge volume of water Sandy is expected to bring should dilute the pathogens and lessen risks to public health.
Health experts have warned of floods flushing out the pests before. Out of the U.K. this summer, there were reports of "rats washed out of sewers" that began infesting homes.
"The rodents breed fast and by the time the flood water recedes, a single pair of rats can generate rodents through an entire neighbourhood," the Winnipeg Free Press reported in April 2011, when rising flood waters in Manitoba brought fleeing rats close to the city.
"It's not just about the high winds and rain," said Ostfeld of Hurricane Sandy. "A rat distrubance is something we should be concerned about."
Rats: Hurricane Sandy's Next Great Health Threat?
Additional news articles on this topic:
NYC rats: stronger than Sandy. Business Week.
Superstorm Sandy: fears of 'ratpocalypse' in New York. The Telegraph.
Has Hurricane Sandy forced diseased rats out of the subway? Mother Nature Network.
Hurricane Sandy Worsens N.Y. Rat Problem. The Daily Beast
