(KRON) -- A bacterial disease that can potentially be fatal to both people and pets has been found in Alameda County for the first time in five years, health officials announced this week. The City of Berkeley issued a public health alert on Monday after cases of leptospirosis were confirmed in sick ened dogs at the Harrison Street encampments. The bacterium spreads through the urine of infected animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and can survive in contaminated water or soil for months. At the Harrison Street encampments, located in the Gilman District near University Village, Berkeley health officials said numerous rats and at least two dogs tested positive for leptospirosis in 2025. “The presence of rats that are transmitting Leptospirosis has made the area unsafe for human encampment conditions in the vicinity of Harrison Street encampments in the area generally bounded by San Pablo Avenue, Gilman Street, Codornices Creek and the railroad tracks,” the public health alert stated. Officials are advising residents of the encampment to move out at least a third of a mile away due to the health risks. Encampment residents leaving the area are also told to disinfect any items that may have been exposed to mud or standing water, as the disease is spread through contaminated water contacting the mouth, nose, eyes or cuts on the skin. Humans and animals could become seriously ill if infected, officials said. In people, leptospirosis is usually asymptomatic but can also present flu-like symptoms. Antibiotic treatments are available for humans, dogs and cats. A two-shot vaccine is also available for dogs and cats to prevent infection. A map released by the City of Berkeley Health, Housing and Community Services Department (below) shows the defined encampment zone in red, and a one-third-mile exclusion zone in yellow. The yellow zone surrounding the red encampment zone has had no evidence of active transmission, however, the proximity “creates risk and need for prevention efforts,” officials said. Area of risk for transmission of leptospirosis and ongoing exposure (Graphic: City of Berkeley Health, Housing and Community Services Department) The general public is told to treat all water in gutters and puddles within the one-third-mile buffer, as well as the creek, as contaminated until transmission control goals are achieved. “Avoid walking or biking through standing water or touching the water in the creek,” the health alert stated. People who have had possible leptospirosis exposure and have flu-like symptoms should seek medical care immediately. Veterinarians should be contacted immediately if a pet that was possibly exposed is showing signs of illness. ...read more read less