[Phoebe]

Leptospirosis or Weil's disease (canicola fever) is the first thing I think about when rats are mentioned. It is transmitted from the rat's urine and can infect humans if in contact with open wounds, cuts and scratches and bodily fluids (don't touch your mouth/eyes etc., after contact). It is only transmittable whilst still wet. It could be on the grass for instance, if the grass is wet and you know there are rats about don't go near.

I say this because a few years ago someone I knew very briefly was in contact with canal water and ultimately died as a consequence. This is a rare case and I don't intend to scare you just make you aware of the worst. It is very unlikely this would happen but the risk is there.