What are the Health Risks Posed by Rat and Mice Infestation?

Rodents, including rats and mice, can be a real challenge to handle.

One moment you can be sure of no infestation at your place and the other moment you can notice mice running around your kitchen. You might keep wondering how these little creatures find their way into your home, but they are there already and might be hurting the structure of your property and the health of your loved ones. To get rid of them, the best you can do is to avail mice treatment services.

Mice and Rodents - How They Can Trouble Your Health?

Rodents are difficult not because these are troublesome to catch but because these come with a whole lot of diseases or infections.

If we talk about the seasons, winters are the most challenging out of all due to the prevalence of flu and common colds. Apart from this, the threats imposed by rodents are also at its peak in winters. It is estimated that rodents invade up to 21 million homes in the U.S. every winter. The infestation can not only be disastrous for your home but also to your health.

You might think, why only winters? Well, it is not just one season as rodents can cause trouble at any time of the year. However, winters are more challenging because of the cold weather. During colder months, rodents including mice and rats, search for food, warmth, and shelter. These often make a way into your place through small cracks or crevices. Nevertheless, the real concern is not of re crevices at your place but of the infections and diseases that can cause serious damage to your property and people.

The feces of mice and rats can contaminate your food sources and spread bacteria around your place. This can immediately trigger allergic reactions in humans. Apart from this, the fecal matter is also hazardous to your lungs. Once dried, it can cause problems for those who breathe in. Furthermore, rodents can spread a lot of bacteria and viruses such as,

Hantavirus

Hantavirus is one of the most dangerous diseases transmitted to humans by rodents, especially the white-footed deer mouse. It can be life-threatening hence need to be controlled. People usually become infected through exposure or inhalation of rodent urine, saliva, or droppings. The chances of infection are higher if people are living near spaces where rodents are active. For instance, it was reported that around ten people fell sick and three died due to exposure to deer mice infected with Hantavirus. The people were reported to be staying in tent cabins at Yosemite National Park.

The early signs and symptoms of Hantavirus are common including fatigue, fever, and muscle ache which makes it hard to diagnose. Some people can also complain about headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal cramps. It is imperative to recognize these symptoms in the early stages to avoid life-threatening conditions later. To avoid such chaos, it’s always wise to connect with pest control companies that offer mice treatment services.

Bubonic Plague

Also called the 'Black Death', is one of the most contagious diseases spread by rodents. Bubonic plague has been known to be a deadly notorious disease that killed one-third of the European population during the Middle Ages. Furthermore, a girl from Colorado was also reported to have fallen ill after returning from a camping trip.

This deadly disease spreads from the bite of an infected rodent. It can cause common symptoms including fever and headache. The most prominent symptom of Bubonic plague is swollen lymph nodes.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis caused by rodents infected by Salmonella is a type of food poisoning. The disease spreads by rodent feces, specifically through the consumption of contaminated food. The symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, and abdominal pain. Nowadays, food poisoning is so common that each year approximately 40,000 cases of Salmonella are reported in the U.S. Hence, it is important to maintain proper hygiene when it comes to food and avoids eating at places where hygiene is not maintained.

Rat-Bite Fever

Rat-bite fever or RBF is also a potentially life-threatening disease spread by infected rodents or by consumption of food infected by rodents. The symptoms of rat-bite fever don't show up immediately. However, the symptoms begin to flare up after 3-10 days of exposure to the infection. The symptoms include fever, vomiting, headaches, rash, and muscle pain.

Apart from the serious threat to health, rodents can cause trouble at your place. These can pose a substantial risk to your property. Rodents are known to destroy insulation in attics, these can chew through your wallboards, cardboard, wood and even your electrical wiring. In fact, rodents are mainly the cause of 25 percent of house fires in the U.S. every year.

How to Prevent Mice Infestation?

The worst about rodents is that these are hard to control. Once set in your house, these can also reproduce rapidly and quickly go from being unnoticeable to a prominent or full-blown infestation. Hence, it is important to get rid of them instantly by availing mice treatment services. Preventing rodents into your place should be your first line of defence.

The best defence you can ensure against mouse diseases is keeping a clean home. Maintaining hygiene at your place is crucial to avoid rodent infestation. Store food in sealed containers, vacuum regularly, make sure your vents are covered, and gaps are sealed effectively to keep these creatures out of your place.

Once you notice a significant infestation that is out of your control, you should contact professionals immediately. The professional team will take care of averting further damage and make your home free from rodents.

For more such posts, stay tuned with Last Stop Pest Control. We offer prompt and professional pest control solutions including mice treatment services at affordable prices. With us, you can rest assured that your home and commercial premises are free from all sorts of pests and small crawling creatures. To get further details, contact us here.