With food waste rotting in the streets, the bin strikes in Birmingham are providing a perfect breeding ground for pests and vermin.

The NHS says Leptospirosis (or Weil’s disease) is common infection spread by mice and rats through contact with their urine.

Symptoms of leptospirosis

Most people who get leptospirosis have no symptoms, or mild flu-like symptoms. But some people get seriously ill.

Symptoms of leptospirosis may include:

high temperature

headache

body aches and pain

tummy ache

feeling sick or being sick

diarrhoea

redness in the white part of your eyes

yellowing of the skin (which may be harder to see on black or brown skin) or white part of the eyes (jaundice)

Non-urgent advice, see a GP if:

You might have been exposed to infected pee, water, or soil and have:

a high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery

a headache

been feeling sick or being sick

diarrhoea

body aches and pains

red eyes

a loss of appetite

Urgent advice. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have:

yellow skin (which may be harder to see on black or brown skin) and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

a rash

been unable to pee

swollen ankles, feet or hands

chest pain

shortness of breath

You can call 111 or get help from NHS 111 online.

For more information visit the NHS website on this link.