How many people are killed by rats? - briefly
Rats cause roughly 5,000 human fatalities annually worldwide, primarily by transmitting diseases such as leptospirosis, plague and hantavirus. This figure is derived from estimates published by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How many people are killed by rats? - in detail
Rats contribute to human mortality primarily through the diseases they transmit. Direct fatalities from rat bites are extremely rare; the overwhelming risk is indirect, arising from pathogen exposure.
- Plague (Yersinia pestis): modern estimates indicate fewer than 2,000 deaths per year worldwide, most occurring in regions with limited access to medical care.
- Leptospirosis (Leptospira spp.): WHO reports approximately 59,000 deaths annually, with rats serving as the chief reservoir in urban and rural settings.
- Hantavirus infections (e.g., Seoul virus): cause roughly 10,000–15,000 deaths each year, predominantly in Asia where rodent‑human contact is frequent.
- Lassa fever (Lassa virus): rodent hosts, including certain rat species, are linked to around 5,000–10,000 deaths per year, mainly in West Africa.
- Rat‑borne typhus (Rickettsia typhi): contributes an estimated 5,000–10,000 deaths globally, especially in tropical climates.
When aggregated, rat‑associated diseases result in roughly 80,000–100,000 human deaths per year. This figure surpasses the total mortality from the plague alone and reflects the combined impact of multiple pathogens. The distribution of fatalities varies by region, with higher rates in low‑income countries where sanitation, rodent control, and healthcare infrastructure are limited. Effective public‑health measures—improved waste management, rodent‑population monitoring, and prompt diagnosis and treatment of infections—reduce the mortality burden attributable to these mammals.