| fatal rat-bite fever--florida and washington, 2003. | rat-bite fever (rbf) is a rare, systemic illness caused by infection with streptobacillus moniliformis. rbf has a case-fatality rate of 7%-10% among untreated patients. s. moniliformis is commonly found in the nasal and oropharyngeal flora of rats. human infection can result from a bite or scratch from an infected or colonized rat, handling of an infected rat, or ingestion of food or water contaminated with infected rat excreta. an abrupt onset of fever, myalgias, arthralgias, vomiting, and head ... | 2005 | 15635289 |