Rat-borne Diseases
Considered responsible for the Black Plague during the Middle Ages, rats are still well-known carriers of over 70 diseases. From the transmission of bubonic plague to typhus and Hantavirus, rat infestations can prove harmful to human health.
One of the most dangerous rat-borne diseases is the bubonic plague and its variants. Transfer occurs when infested rats or rat fleas bite human beings. Symptoms include headache, weakness and coughing. Septicemic plague may result in bleeding into the skin and other organs. This fatal disease often kills within the same day that symptoms first appear.
Rat urine is responsible for the spread of leptospirosis, which can result in liver and kidney damage. Complications include renal and liver failure, as well as cardiovascular problems. Approximately half of the reported cases of leptospirosis are fatal.
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, a viral infectious disease, is transmitted through the saliva and urine of rats. This disease results in fever, malaise, appetite loss, muscle aches, headache, nausea and vomiting. Victims may also experience inflammation of the central nervous system and can contract meningitis or encephalitis. Some individuals experience long-term effects of lymphocytic choriomeningitis, while others experience only temporary discomfort.
Hantavirus
Rats are also known carriers of Hantavirus, a deadly renal syndrome that causes tachycardia and tachypnoea. Victims may be debilitated and can experience cardiovascular shock. Hantavirus is transmitted through rat urine and feces.
Hantavirus is a deadly, disease that is associated with some mice and rats. Also known as HPS, for Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, this disease has been identified in over half of the states of the United States. . HPS is transmitted to humans when they inhale airborne particles from rodent droppings, urine, or carcasses that have been disturbed.
The first symptoms of the virus can be mistaken for the flu. Following exposure, fever, headache, nausea and other symptoms can be observed for one to five days. Patients then suffer breathing difficulties that may prove fatal if not treated effectively and immediately. Those infected require hospitalization and rate of survival is low.
In order to avoid HPS, all mouse feces, nest materials and dead rodents must be removed from the home. Spray suspected areas thoroughly with disinfectant before sweeping to avoid having anything become airborne. Use gloves to handle rodent carcasses or droppings. Buildings should be aired out following an infestation. Not all rodents have been found to carry HPS. Deer mice cotton rats, rice rats, and white-footed mice are the most common transmitters. However, everyone should use caution in dealing with rodents or rodent infestations.
House Mice Diseases & Hantavirus Video