Forbes A disease spread by rodents that causes vomiting and bleeding from the eyes called “mouse fever” is tearing through Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence, illustrating the poor conditions soldiers face as the war edges towards stalemate and nears the two-year mark.
“Mouse fever” is reportedly “mowing down” Russian troops “en masse” near the city of Kupyansk in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (GUR) said in a Telegram post.
Symptoms of mouse fever include a severe headache, fever, rashes, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting and bleeding from the eyes, GUR said, adding that the disease resembles flu in its early stages.
The disease also affects the kidneys, GUR wrote, meaning infected people can experience severe pain in the lower back and have difficulty urinating.
The disease is spread by rodents and transmitted to humans when they inhale dust from rodent excrement or eat contaminated food, the GUR said.
GUR claimed the Russian command is ignoring complaints from its troops about illnesses like mouse fever, believing them to be an excuse to avoid combat duties.
GUR’s report on the disease spreading through Russian troops has not been independently verified and Russia’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
GUR did not identify the disease it claims is striking down Russian troops. The agency said it was viral in nature, which, along with its mode of transmission and the symptoms identified, suggests mouse fever could be hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HFRS is a “ group of clinically similar illnesses caused by” a cluster of related viruses known as hantaviruses. Hantaviruses, which can also cause respiratory infections, are carried and transmitted by rodents and people can become infected following exposure to aerosolized urine, droppings or saliva, in addition to direct contact with broken skin or membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth. There is no specific treatment, cure or vaccine for hantavirus infection according to the CDC and “rodent control is the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus infections.” Depending on the virus and type of infection, hantavirus can be fatal in fewer than 1% of cases or as many as 38% of cases.