Birmingham risks an outbreak of deadly virus that killed Gene Hackman's wife, warn experts as bin strikes create huge swarms of rats

Birmingham's bin crisis could have triggered a rise in deadly vermin viruses—and they may already be spreading undetected, experts fear.

The city has been plagued by ongoing bin strikes that have seen streets piled high with an estimated 17,000 tonnes of rubbish and rats thriving on a 'banquet' of waste.

Workers have been striking for weeks following plans by Birmingham City Council to reduce waste collection roles and pay in a bid to shore up its finances.

But top infectious diseases experts fear the issue has given a host of rat-transmitted diseases the 'opportunity to thrive' and could 'very well' be going undetected.

The public must stay alert to the symptoms of one bacterial infection, leptospirosis, also known as Weil's disease, that in severe cases kills up to 40 per cent of victims.

Another, hantavirus—which spreads via the urine of infected rats—is the terrifying infection that allegedly killed Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, earlier this year.

Pest control experts have also warned the rat infestations pose a 'huge public health danger' that has left Birmingham 'extremely vulnerable'.

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: 'Leptospirosis is a very nasty disease which can cause a liver damage that can be fatal.'

He continued: 'It can also trigger heart disease, lung disease, meningitis.

'The mortality rate among patients who develop severe disease have ranged from five to up to 40 per cent.

'Not every case, however, will be severe. But all infections have a small risk of developing into more severe cases.

'As the number of rats has increased, the risk to humans has certainly increased.'

Prof Hunter added: 'There are several other types of leptospirosis spread by other animals, including cattle and dogs.

'This type is then common among farmers but can often go undiagnosed, because it doesn't cause symptoms.

'So, it could very well be spreading undetected in Birmingham right now.'

Latest figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows there were an average of 57 laboratory-confirmed cases and 89 'probable' cases of Weil's disease every year between 2020 and 2023.

These are UK-wide figures and no data for infections in Birmingham are currently publicly available.

Early signs of the infection include nausea and vomiting, headaches, body aches, tummy aches and a high temperature.

In 2010, Olympic gold medalist rower Andy Holmes died from the disease after a 26-mile sculling marathon.

Professor Hunter added: 'Most research on leptospirosis transmission is around swimming in contaminated water.

'The bacteria usually enters the body through cuts or abrasions in the skin or though such water getting into the mouth or eyes.

If you have to handle potentially contaminated refuse always wear gloves.'

Dr Elizabeth Sheridan, a consultant microbiologist and infectious disease expert, also told The Telegraph that Weil's disease is 'the one thing I would be worried about'.

She said: 'Most people don't know they have been exposed to rat urine. You are at risk if you handle things that rats have been running over and that gets into your system.

'For example, if you were handling bin bags and it got into your eyes or you put your hands in your mouth.

'The heat is not a good thing because rats will only breed faster.'

Pest control experts have also already warned of the 'huge public health danger' the bin strikes pose.

Grahame Turner, technical manager at the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA), said: 'This is a huge public health danger, and what we're seeing in Birmingham is incredibly concerning.

'Rats and mice are known to carry diseases such as leptospirosis, hantavirus, and salmonella, which can spread through their droppings, urine, and even by contaminating food supplies.

'Rotting food is an absolute banquet to them, and Birmingham is already extremely vulnerable due to previous strikes and infestation levels of rodents that are observed within urban areas.'

Research has also shown the UK has recorded at least six cases of severe kidney injuries caused by hantavirus — spread via rat urine, droppings and saliva.

All had been exposed to pet or wild rats.

But others experts also called for caution, noting that the situation in Birmingham was currently 'more stink than a real health issue'.

But unless the crisis is swiftly resolved rats 'and other infections will have an opportunity to thrive', they said.

Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'It's more stink than a serious health issue yet.

'While exposure to rodent droppings and urine can lead to infection, incidence rates in the UK are low.

'Infection generally requires direct contact, typically through cuts and grazes, so while black bag mounds and people remain separated the risk is limited.

'However, the link between unsanitary conditions and infection is very well established so the sooner the clean-up, the better.'

Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, also said: 'Person to person transmission of Weil's Disease is very rare, so although there could feasibly be a few localised cases, we're very unlikely to see any wider outbreak.

'Around one-third of pet rat owners have antibodies, and thus some exposure to, hantavirus.

'Cases in the UK are rare and are typically seen in those who have close and sustained contact, for example fancy rat breeders.

'With both Weil's Disease and hantavirus, the risks to the population will be very low, but they have an opportunity to thrive.'