You may want to think twice about going barefoot if you live in New York City and dispose of your garbage in a basement, trash compactor or incinerator. The reason—a rare disease known as leptospirosis, caused by a corkscrew-shaped bacteria that normally thrives in warm and moist environments, which is transmitted by contact with the urine of rodents (rats and mice). One of the patients died, according to the DOHMH, but the other two patients survived and were discharged. It is not generally known to spread from person to person. The good news is that the leptospirosis generally produces minimal to no symptoms in the majority of patients .

Source: Forbes February 16, 2017 11:00 UTC