A pilot program in Tanzania, is currently using trained giant rats to sniff human sputum samples to detect Tuberculosis (TB). This is a contagious and potentially fatal disease that can affect almost any part of the body but manifests mainly as an infection of the lungs.
These giant rats are said to have improved disease detection by 44 percent, as they find TB that is not detected by conventional testing.
According to the World Health Organization, TB can be difficult to detect under the microscope, and estimates are that 2 billion people around the world are infected with it.
Besides being able to detect TB, these rodents are also good at detecting land mines. In the full article, it is stated that, “Whatever dogs can detect, rats can detect equally well, a rat can be trained for one-fifth the cost. They’re more calm than most small animals, very intelligent and social, and they love humans.”
I’ll take my chances with the TB.
Rats are surprisingly one of the smartest, most sociable animals around. I think that the bubonic plague just destroyed their image.
That’s amazing that they found yet another valuable skill. Now they just need to hire a better PR firm and say NO to all of those negative movie roles.
The bubonic plague not only killed a bunch of people—but it served as quite the cock-blocker as well…
OK fine, just so long as I don’t catch the plague 😦
I agree with Scott
I had 2 pet albino rats many years ago.
They were great fun and very, very intelligent and sociable animals !!!
Rats are generally portrayed in the media as ‘dirty’ creatures. The truth is they are very fastidious – constantly ‘washing’ themselves and each other.
I hope that was just a funky camera angle…because that is one big assed rat! 🙂
Now I know why there are no land mines in New York City. They have as many rats as people and a land mine would be detected within seconds with all of those rats.