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Finding a mouse or a rat in your home is more than just a startling inconvenience. While we often think of rodents as a nuisance that can chew through wires and contaminate food, they pose a far more serious threat: they are carriers of a variety of diseases that can be dangerous to humans and pets. Understanding the potential health risks is the first step to protecting your family and your home.
Rodents can transmit diseases in several ways, primarily through direct contact with their droppings, urine, or saliva, or indirectly through pests like fleas and ticks that have fed on an infected rodent.
Common Diseases Transmitted by Rodents
The diseases carried by rodents can range from mild to life-threatening. Here are some of the most common health risks associated with an infestation:
Hantavirus: One of the most serious diseases linked to rodents, particularly deer mice. Humans can contract hantavirus by breathing in contaminated dust from rodent droppings or urine. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, and severe respiratory distress, which can be fatal.
Salmonellosis: This is a bacterial infection that can be spread by rodents contaminating food preparation surfaces, food, or water with their feces. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease found in the urine of infected animals, including rodents. Humans can be infected through direct contact with contaminated urine or by consuming contaminated food or water. It can cause a range of symptoms, from flu-like illness to more severe liver and kidney damage.
Rat-Bite Fever: As the name suggests, this is a bacterial infection transmitted through rodent bites or scratches. It can also be spread by consuming food or water contaminated with rodent feces. Symptoms include fever, rash, and joint pain.
How to Tell If You Have a Rodent Problem
Since rodents are primarily nocturnal, you may not see them, but they leave behind tell-tale signs of their presence. Look for:
Rodent Droppings: These are often found in kitchens, pantries, attics, and basements. They look like small, dark pellets.
Gnaw Marks: Rodents constantly gnaw to keep their teeth sharp. Look for gnaw marks on food packaging, wiring, and wooden structures.
Nesting Materials: Rodents will use shredded paper, fabric, and other soft materials to build nests in hidden spots.
Unusual Noises: You might hear scratching, squeaking, or scurrying sounds in your walls or attic at night.
Grease Marks: Rodents often leave behind grease and dirt marks along walls and baseboards as they travel the same paths.
The Importance of Professional Rodent Control
Dealing with a rodent infestation is not a job for DIY methods. The dangers posed by these pests, both from direct contact and airborne contaminants, are too great to risk. A professional pest control company, like Midstate Termite & Pest Control, offers a multi-faceted approach to not only eliminate the existing rodent population but also to protect your home from future invasions.
Our technicians are trained to safely handle and remove rodents, thoroughly sanitize contaminated areas, and identify and seal entry points to prevent re-entry. We use proven, effective methods that are safe for your family and pets.
Protect Your Home and Your Family's Health!
The health risks posed by rodents are very real. Don't let a small pest problem become a serious health threat to your family. Taking a proactive stance with professional help is the best way to ensure your home is a safe and healthy environment.
If you suspect you have a rodent problem, don't wait. Contact Midstate Termite & Pest Control today at (931) 286-7245 for a professional inspection and a lasting solution!