A rodent infestation on your residential or commercial property is no small matter and should be addressed immediately with rodent pest control. Not only do they look unsightly and cause damage to your property, but they also bring disease with them wherever they go. In fact, wild rats and mice have been closely associated with over 35 diseases worldwide. All it takes is a single bite or direct contact with their urine or feces to spread the diseases they carry to you and your family. Get to know the health risks they pose and some of the diseases they cause below.
Why are Rodent Pests Considered Health Risks?
Rats and mice are pests closely associated with unsanitary conditions because they thrive in areas with poor sanitation. Whether it’s garbage or sewage, these rodent pests are not picky about what they consider food and water because they are scavengers. And in areas where sanitary conditions are poor, they can consider almost anything as a source of food and water and encourage them to build their nest in or near that area.
Because they thrive in areas with poor sanitation, they can spread all sorts of diseases while scampering inside your home. They can get in contact with food items or areas where food is prepared, which could lead to all kinds of diseases as you unknowingly come into contact with bacteria and viruses.
Rodents can also cause diseases indirectly by hosting various parasites. For example, disease-ridden fleas and ticks, which carry different bacteria and viruses, call mice and rats their favorite hosts. Once they latch onto their hosts, these rodents could develop illnesses that they can then spread inside your home either through direct contact or through contact with items you frequently use. On the other hand, there is also a big chance that the ticks and fleas could switch hosts, infecting you with the disease directly.
The movement of rodents inside your property can do more than just spread disease. It could also lead to poorer sanitary conditions. They could spread garbage around, cause spills, and destroy your belongings, which creates an environment that could attract more of these creatures to your property and build their nest there. Rodent pest control is still the best way to prevent infestation.
How Do You Get Infected With Diseases Caused by Rodent Pests?
Rodents can cause and spread disease in many ways. These include:
- Ingesting contaminated food or water
- Direct contact with urine, saliva, or droppings
- Touching eyes, nose, or mouth after coming into contact with rat waste
- Getting bitten or scratched by an infected rodent
- Breathing in contaminated dust
- Tick or flea bites
What Diseases Do They Cause?
The presence of pests in your home should always be a cause for alarm because it can be a sign of an infestation waiting to happen. Failure to implement rodent control measures early on can attract more to your property, introducing more pathogens that could lead to disease. Here are some of the most common diseases they can cause:
Leptospirosis is a flu-like disease caused when humans come into contact with food, water, or soil contaminated with the bacteria Leptospira. This can be spread through the urine of rodents and can enter the bloodstream through an open wound. When severe cases of the disease develop, symptoms can develop beyond the common flu. These include chest pains, swollen limbs, jaundice, inflammation of the heart muscle, and meningitis.
Salmonellosis, or food poisoning, is caused by the bacteria Salmonella and is acquired when a person ingests food contaminated with rat fecal matter or urine. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping.
Rat-Bite Fever is one of the most common diseases caused by rodent pests. It is a serious disease that can turn life-threatening when left untreated. Symptoms of RBF include fever, vomiting, headaches, muscle pain, and the appearance of a red, flat rash on the hands and feet.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a rare but serious lung disease caused when a hantavirus enters the body. These viruses are commonly found in the urine, saliva, or fecal matter of infected wild rodent pests and can enter the lungs when they turn airborne. Early symptoms include fever, severe muscle aches, and fatigue but could progress to more severe symptoms if left untreated. These include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and difficulty breathing.
Lyme Disease is a disease caused by black-legged ticks that causes the appearance of flu-like symptoms and a circular or oval-shaped rash around the bite site. Within one to four weeks of infection, flu-like symptoms could progress to more severe complications, such as severe joint pain, facial palsy, and brain and spinal cord inflammation.
Typhus is another disease that is caused by a virus spread by ticks. After flu-like symptoms develop, a severe rash appears that starts from the bite site but could spread to the entire body.
Rickettsialpox begins with the appearance of a painless, firm red lump on the bite site that leads to blister formation. When infected, the disease can lead to photophobia (discomfort in bright light), rashes, loss of appetite, and abnormal sweating if left untreated.
Call in the Experts in Rodent Control
Medical experts agree that robust rodent pest control is still the best way to control the spread of any diseases caused by mice and rats. If you suspect that you have a rodent infestation on your property, call in the professionals at Pest Control Unlimited.
Pest Control Unlimited LLC offers expert pest control services to help you eliminate any infestation and prevent pests from coming back. We create a customized plan by studying your property carefully and implementing safe yet effective control measures to ensure the complete elimination of rodents, giving you a safe and disease-free environment. If you need professional pest control services, give us a call at (888) 649-9919 or contact us here.
