Illinois now exporting rat disease
Thursday, Jan 19, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the BN-D…
State regulators say half a dozen people have developed a virus linked to rats at two Illinois rat farms.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reporting Thursday that there have been six confirmed cases of Seoul virus in individuals who had direct exposure to rats in two different Illinois ratteries, including one in east-central Illinois. Ratteries are facilities where rats are bred.
A rattery in Wisconsin purchased rats from the two Illinois ratteries, and two Wisconsin residents have also tested positive for Seoul virus. Results of laboratory testing of rats at these facilities are pending.
The agency said it is working closely with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local health departments to investigate the source of the Seoul virus infections, coordinate testing, and prevent possible future cases.
Learn something new every day. I’d never heard of a rattery before, and I didn’t know the state has two of them.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:15 pm:
My favorite line in one of my favorite movies, THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, is uttered by Sean Connery: “He’s a ratting gent.” But that movie takes place 150 years ago in Victorian England…
- Terry Salad - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
I suspect these facilities supply lab rats for research.
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
Isn’t a rattery where they make ratatouille? Hey, at least we’re exporting something.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:19 pm:
We’ve got a bunch of unlicensed ratteries in my neighborhood. I’d love to find a way to export some of them.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:22 pm:
Sure. It’s where they are breeding the state worker replacements. (Sorry that was bad. I get it)
- The Captain - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:27 pm:
What kind of disease do you have? A rat disease.
Where did you get it? A rat farm.
Well I’m no public health professional but it seems like there are maybe a few obvious steps we could take here …
- Not quite a majority - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
I distinctly remember a debate on the floor of the House concerning rat-ites (rare animals such as emu), but when did we start having rat farms? And please tell me it had nothing to do with the renovations on the Statehouse a couple of years ago . . ./s
- Aldyth - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:33 pm:
I’m trying desperately not to give into temptation and make politician jokes.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:37 pm:
We can’t even do rats right?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
Did the gov resign and leave the state? /s
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:45 pm:
Terry Salad- from a Google, it looks like they are pet rats, not lab rats. BTW- there are also rat rescue groups, too
- Monty Python - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
Mmm mmmm good.
- cgo75 - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:54 pm:
I think this needs to be escalated to a Rattery General for further investigation!
- very old soil - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:03 pm:
Did they get the appropriate approvals from the state to construct and operate these facilities?
- Railrat - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:06 pm:
Quick LRB a tax on rat facilities! This is Illinois opportunity knocks for taxation ! YES !!!!
- Bob61571 - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:07 pm:
Hey, we all learned something today. A little Googling found at least 6 ratteries in Illinois. The Rattery biz in Illinois may regret the PR. General Assembly is liable to start a Rat Tax now.
- WhoKnew - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:08 pm:
” I didn’t know the state has two of them.”
3 if you count the Capitol Complex! /s
Sorry, couldn’t resist!
- m - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:11 pm:
=General Assembly is liable to start a Rat Tax now.=
Or a Rattery board of governors that they can appoint cronies to, probably no meetings but a nice paycheck…
- Silent Budgeteer - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:18 pm:
Because…..Madigan!
- wondering - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:28 pm:
More emigration from our state, Oh me. Maybe the T.A. will stem the tide and keep rats close to home.
- Whatever - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
==Quick LRB a tax on rat facilities! This is Illinois opportunity knocks for taxation ! YES !!!!==
And drive our last thriving industry out of the State? No way!
- Thinking - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
Are ratteries licensed or overseen by Department of Public Health or Agriculture??
- Blue dog dem - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
I think it started in a package of Oreos.
- Tier1gal - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 4:45 pm:
How about a Rattery Task Force. That is the usual action in IL government…lot’s of results you know.
- Railrat - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 4:50 pm:
I’m hearing lobsters have reserved room at local watering hole to vie for rat lobby
- Railrat - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 4:54 pm:
And Carrigan at AFL CIO is going to picket for prevailing wage for rats !!! YES
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 5:11 pm:
Pretty sure there’s an unlicensed rattery in the Stratton basement
- Whatever - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 5:22 pm:
Trump is going to build a wall around the state and make us pay for it.
- Rat Man Do - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 5:32 pm:
As Indiana Jones said “You would have never made it through Dad. There were Rats ! Big Ones”
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 5:44 pm:
Don’t forget the one we exported to Colorado.
- John - Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 6:37 pm:
So that ruined Ratatouille’s chances of fixing our state.
- Lynn S. - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 2:44 am:
I’m not even going to Google this, because I live in “east central Illinois”, and I do not wish to know where any of these ratteries are.
- Publius - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 8:08 am:
So why is selling a senate seat by Rod against the law but buys legislative seats by Rauner is not?