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Common Diseases from Rodent Infestations: How To Stay Safe

Common Diseases from Rodent Infestations: How To Stay Safe

Rodent infestations can be a severe problem in both homes and businesses, as they can cause extensive structural damage, contaminate supplies, and spread disease. Proper sanitation, exclusion measures, and rodent infestation cleanup are a few practices that can help keep these bothersome creatures outside of the house or property. If a rodent or mouse infestation does occur, it is essential to take prompt and effective action to eliminate the pests.

Let's cover the basics of rats, mice, and other household infestations and how Bio-One can help you clean, disinfect, and decontaminate your house or property from rodents.

Rodents - A Common Yet Dangerous Pest Problem

Rodents are small mammals that belong to the order of Rodentia. There are about 2.000 species of rodents, and they can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Mice can cause similar problems as rats. They're very quick in nesting and reproducing and are especially attracted to warm crawl spaces and food sources. Keeping your kitchen and other areas clean and free of clutter is important to prevent them from nesting in your house.

Rodents and mice can also carry parasites, such as ticks and fleas, spreading diseases to humans and pets. In some cases, rodents can also bite or scratch humans, leading to disease transmission.

Rats and Mice - How Common Are They In the US?

In the United States, rats and mice are the most common types of rodents, and they can be found in both rural and urban areas. Rats can cause extensive damage to buildings and crops, while mice can spread diseases. Despite this, many people are unaware of the dangers they pose.

Rats and mice can be difficult to distinguish from one another. Generally, rats are more prominent than mice, but there is a great deal of variation within each species. Rats typically have brown fur, while mice have lighter fur, and both species have bald tails. Rats and mice are both very prolific creatures. Female rats can have up to six babies in a year, with as many as twelve babies in each litter. Mice can have up to eight babies in a year, with as many as six babies in each litter.

Why Are Pests Infestations Such a Big Problem for Humans?

Rodents can be a severe nuisance and health hazard. Rats can chew through wires, causing fires and spreading diseases like Salmonella and Hantavirus. Rat droppings can easily contaminate food and spread diseases like the flu, typhus, rat-bite fever, and salmonella.

Other household pests like cockroaches can contaminate food, spread bacterial diseases like dysentery and typhoid fever, and they're also one of the leading causes of asthma attacks in children. Bedbugs can bite people and spread diseases like hepatitis B and MRSA. Termites damage homes and office buildings, causing billions of dollars in damage each year. 

Diseases Associated With Rodents

Rodent-borne diseases are a severe health threat and should be taken seriously. If you think you may have been exposed to one of these diseases, it is crucial to seek medical attention. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for preventing serious complications. Pest control is fundamental for houses where children and elderly patients live.

Common Diseases Transmitted Via Direct Contact with Rodents

There are a few diseases directly transmitted by rodents, and it is crucial to be aware of them if you live in an area where these animals are common. The hantavirus is the most serious of these diseases, which can cause severe respiratory problems and even death. Other diseases transmitted by rodents include rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, and plague. If you think you may have been exposed to one of these diseases, it is important to seek medical attention.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

A rodent-borne viral disease, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), is a severe, often fatal, illness caused by hantaviruses. These viruses are carried by deer mice, cotton rats, and rice rats. Although rare, HPS is the most common hantavirus infection in the United States.

People become infected with hantaviruses when they breathe in dust contaminated with the virus. The virus can also be spread through contact with rodent urine, saliva, or blood. HPS symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and shortness of breath. About one-third of people who develop HPS die from the illness.

There is no specific treatment for HPS. However, early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics and oxygen therapy are crucial for overcoming the illness. Prevention of HPS includes avoiding contact with mice and rat droppings and using caution when cleaning up rodent-infested areas.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can be spread through contact with animal urine, including dogs, cows, and pigs. It can also be contracted via contaminated water or soil. Symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, and vomiting. The infection can lead to severe kidney failure, liver damage, and meningitis.

Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, and early diagnosis and treatment are essential for preventing serious complications. There is no specific prevention for leptospirosis, but avoiding rodent exposure and other pests is recommended.

Rat-Bite Fever

Rat-bite fever is a severe but rare disease caused by the bacterium Streptobacillus moniliformis. The bacteria are found in mouse urine and other rodents.

People become infected with rat-bite fever when they are bitten or scratched by an infected rodent or when they come into contact with infected animal tissue (i.e., dead rodents) or fluids. Rat-bite fever symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and vomiting. The infection can spread to the brain in severe cases, causing meningitis. Rat-bite fever is treated with antibiotics.

Rats-bite fever prevention includes avoiding contact with rodent excrement and dead rodents and using caution during a rodent infestation cleanup.

Plague

The plague is a serious, often fatal, infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The bacteria are found in rodent urine and saliva from other rodents.

People become infected with the plague when bitten or scratched by an infected rodent, animal tissue, or fluids. Plague symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. In severe cases, the infection can cause gangrene and death. The plague is treated with antibiotics.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is a food-borne illness caused by the bacteria Salmonella. The most common infection route is consuming contaminated food, which can also be acquired through contact with infected animals or their feces. Rats and mice are among the most common carriers of Salmonella and can transmit the bacteria to humans through their urine, droppings, or saliva.

Salmonella can also be present on their fur and spread to food or surfaces when the mice and rats are handled. Infection with Salmonella can result in a range of symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.

The infection can spread to the bloodstream and cause life-threatening complications in severe cases. Salmonellosis is a severe illness and can be fatal in some cases. It is essential to take precautions when dealing with rats or mice and ensure that all edibles and surfaces are properly disinfectd. Anyone who suspects they may have contracted salmonellosis should seek medical attention immediately.

Common Diseases Indirectly Transmitted by Rodents

Rodents can also spread other diseases indirectly by contaminating food or water supplies with their urine or feces. This can cause several serious illnesses, including salmonellosis, Lyme Disease, and hepatitis. It is essential to take precautions against rodent infestation, such as keeping food and water supplies sealed and clean and disposing of garbage properly. 

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection. Although mice and rats do not directly transmit Lyme disease, they can play a role in transmitting the disease to humans. Rats and mice can become infected with Lyme disease when they feed on infected ticks, and they can then spread the infection to other animals and humans.

Lyme disease is a severe illness that can cause many health problems, so it is essential to take precautions to protect yourself from infection. 

Avoiding tick bites is the best way to prevent Lyme disease, and you can also reduce your risk of infection by keeping your home and property free of rodents.

Babesiosis

Babesiosis is a parasitic disease that is spread by infected ticks. It can cause fever, chills, and other symptoms. In severe cases, it can lead to organ failure and even death. If you are concerned that you may have babesiosis, please see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Babesiosis can be fatal for people with a weakened immune system due to other diseases, people dealing with other medical conditions, people who don't have a spleen, and elderly patients.

How Can You Prevent Rodents from Coming to Your House or Property?

One of the most important things you can do to prevent a rodent or mouse infestation is to make your property less attractive to them. Start by sealing off any possible entry points, eliminating potential feeding sources, and keeping all areas of the house clean and free of the clutter that may result in nesting materials for them.

If You Already Have a Rodent or Pest Infestation

If you have noticed evidence of rodent activity or other pests in your house, consider hiring a professional rodent control company to assist you in the extermination process. Pest control is the first step to recovering from a house infestation. Professionals know the best practices to protect you and properly dispose of all signs of rodent damage.

What Are the  Signs of a Rodent Infestation?

The first sign that you may have a rodent problem is if there are droppings all over the place. Urination and Defecation stains also indicate this, as does gnawing on various surfaces like wiring or insulation, for example! If these aren't enough to convince your doubt, then check out some of their other habits- they might nest in shredded paper/cardboard boxes, for instance.

Some companies don't take care of the dead rodent once the extermination has been completed. While there are many tips and tricks on how to clean up contaminated areas by rodents, like using a commercial disinfectant or bleach solution in warm water, you should know that exposure to dead rodents may result in the diseases we described above.

If you're facing this problem, Bio-One can help you. Our company tackles rodent infestation cleanup, removes clutter and possible nesting materials, and disinfects areas impacted by rodent infestations.

Bio-One has vast experience cleaning up and disinfecting droppings, urine, and any potentially contaminated materials. 

Rodent Infestation Cleanup - Bio-One of Orange Can Help You

No one wants rodent droppings in their home or office, but unfortunately, they can be common. If you find yourself with this unsightly and potentially dangerous mess, don't panic! Bio-One is here to help.

Our highly trained professionals can approach any rodent infestation cleanup process, removing feces and urine thoroughly and efficiently, ensuring your safety and peace of mind. We'll also take steps to rodent-proof your home or office to help protect you from future infestations.

Possible scenario for rodent infestations - Bio-One of Orange.
Clutter and squalor provide a suitable environment for rodent infestations.

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