You can catch a fatal disease by drinking from soda cans that have been contaminated with rat urine.

See the story here.

Almost certainly not, though the theoretical possibility can't be ruled out.

Two fatal diseases that could be transmitted through rat urine have been in the news recently. One, Hantavirus Pulomonary Syndrome (HPS), is caused by hantavirus and is mentioned in some versions of this story. Leptospirosis is another.

While hantavirus is transmitted through rat droppings and urine, it is a respiratory disease that does not show the symptoms described in some versions allegedly occurring in Hawaii and Miami. Some things to note:

• Both HPS and leptospirosis are relatively rare. About 100 - 200 cases of leptospirosis occur each year in the United States.
• Both HPS and leptospirosis are treatable if properly diagnosed.
• HPS is contracted by frequently inhaling dust from dried mouse droppings.

If you are looking for reasons to wash the tops of soda cans, the possibility of dying from HPS or leptospirosis are not particularly persuasive. Plain old E coli probably pose a greater threat.

Does it really take the threat of a fatal disease to inspire some folks to wash the gunk off of soda can tops?

Web references:

• "All About Hantavirus" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• "Leptospirosis" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• "It's the Lethal Thing" from About.com
• "Death's Droppings" from the Urban Legend Research Centre
• "Toxin du jour (Rat Urine)" from the Urban Legends Reference Pages

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