Leptospirosis is a spirochete.

Leptospirosis is a spirochete. Afaik, it is still treatable with antibiotics, assuming you know that's what you're looking for/treating. It's not just rats and their urine that spread it, although that's probably the most common vector. Meanwhile, putting "rats" and "disease" in a headline are guaranteed to get clicks.

However, buried in this is the fact that these people are living in a building infested with rats and all the health department is doing is trying to address the rat problem? A building generally has to be in pretty bad shape for the level of infestation described in here (quote paraphrase - they run around like they're part of your house). I think 3 cases of leptospirosis is pretty damn minimal under those circumstances. Why haven't they hauled the super and landlord into court? Why haven't they condemned the buildings until they are completely fixed up and cleaned up for health and safety? How is it they are allowing people to live in these conditions?

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rat-spread-disease-leptospirosis-kills-1-person-sickens-2-in-nyc-officials-say/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rat-spread-disease-leptospirosis-kills-1-person-sickens-2-in-nyc-officials-say/