Diseases from Mice, Rats & Other Rodents

Protect Yourself Against the Health Risks Spread by Rodents

Temperature changes and inclement weather can send rodents like rats, mice, and squirrels indoors.

While inside, these rodents will nest in attics, basements, walls, pantries, and other locations that are out of sight to humans and comfortable to the critter(s).

With available food sources and nesting materials gathered from insulation, shredded paper, cardboard, and other common items, it doesn’t take much for a few rodents to settle in.

Unfortunately, rodent populations grow quickly and the presence of nuisance wildlife in a house or commercial business can carry a host of issues.

Not only can this lead to a rodent infestation, but there is also the danger of the disease and parasites rodents carry with them.

Rodent Diseases Humans Need to Know About

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mice and other rodents spread more than 35 diseases worldwide through both direct and indirect contact.

Diseases from mice and rats can be harmful to humans, especially young children and individuals with weak immune systems.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

The Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe respiratory disease caused by an infection with the hantavirus. It can also be fatal.

While hantavirus cannot be transmitted from person to person, it can be transmitted through droppings, urine and rodent saliva. And in confined areas such as cabins, it can be inhaled by humans.

Hantavirus is spread through direct contact with the rodents, their droppings and/or urine, as well as inhaling dust that contains the infected droppings.

The spread of hantavirus at Yosemite during the summer of 2012 is a reminder of what can happen when rodents dwell in areas that are also inhabited by people.

During this time the hantavirus killed three of the nine sickened people. After which, more studies were conducted and continue to reinforce the disease’s reach and severity.

Hantavirus can be spread by a variety of rodents, including the white-footed mouse and the deer mouse.

Early symptoms include fatigue, a fever, dizziness, and muscle aches. These aches will happen in larger muscle groups, like the thighs, hips, or shoulders.

Salmonella Infection in Mice & Rats

The salmonella bacteria lives in the intestines of humans and nuisance wildlife and can be spread through feces.

A salmonella infection, also referred to as salmonellosis, is a bacterial food poisoning caused by the consumption of food infected by rodent droppings.

Rats and mice are the main culprits for spreading the salmonella bacteria to humans.

A person who is suffering from a salmonella infection can anticipate symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, abdominal cramps, among other issues.

Other Viruses & Diseases Caused by Rodents

Lyme disease and Babesiosis are caused by the bite of an infected tick, often transported into houses on the bodies of nuisance wildlife.

A rodent shedding fur can also spread dangerous pathogens throughout the air system in a home or business and onto furniture, yourself, and any animals in the building.

When it comes to health concerns, rodent cleanup is extremely important.

Mice, rats, and other nuisance wildlife can cause a significant amount of destruction — in addition to potentially deteriorating your health.

This issue makes it important to solve your nuisance wildlife and rodent infestations before they grow and before your health is at risk.

Contact Catseye Pest Control for rodent control services specializing in rats and mice and how Cat-Guard Exclusion Systems can permanently exclude rodents from your home or business.

If you think you have new rodent roommates, don’t wait for them to make a mess of your house or your health before evicting them.