Potentially fatal 'rat' disease hospitalises 11 in the Waikato

A potentially fatal disease, previously a rarity in New Zealand, has hospitalised 11 people in the Waikato since May.

The Waikato Times reported yesterday 11 cases of rickettsia typhi, a close relative of typhus, have been identified this year, with doctors concerned other cases could be going undiagnosed.

The disease was usually transmitted by fleas from rats, sometimes from bites, or from inhalation of airborne flea faeces.

Before this year, there have only been 25 cases recorded in New Zealand.

The disease, also known as murine typhus, causes severe fever, headache, muscle pain, dry coughs, nausea, vomiting, and often a rash, and can sometimes be confused with flu.

All 11 patients were hospitalised with the disease, but doctors said there were possibly a lot more people in the Waikato who had the disease and did not yet know it.

All 11 Waikato cases were in rural areas or on lifestyle blocks.

- NZPA