While finding a bug in your home is never fun, it generally pales in comparison to finding a mouse or squirrel roaming in your house. Besides invoking terror, these rodents can also carry harmful diseases that can easily be contracted by you or your family.
Here, Dan Bradbury of Viking Pest Control explains some risks associated with the common rodents that find their way into your house.
Mice: Anytime you find a mouse in your home, you need to be on high alert. Not only do these rodents carry diseases themselves, but anything that they touch such as boxes of food or kitchen countertops becomes contaminated with hundreds of different kinds of disease-causing bacteria as well.
According to Bradbury, mice that invade your home may be carrying serious illnesses such as the Hantavirus. The Hantavirus is a virus that you can become infected with if you touch, eat or drink anything that has been contaminated by a mouse carrying the bacteria. Early symptoms of the Hantavirus include a fever, dizziness, chills and muscle aches. About a week after you notice the above-mentioned first symptoms, your lungs may fill with fluid and you will experience shortness of breath. At this stage, if you have not already, you need to seek medical attention. Because the virus attacks your lungs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that most patients will need to be admitted into the intensive care unit of their local hospital where they will receive oxygen therapy. The earlier you get help for the disease, the faster you will recover.
Furthermore, Bradbury says that like ticks, mice can also carry Lyme disease. Just as humans do, mice are infected after being bitten by a tick. Once the mouse has the disease, it can be transferred to humans if the mouse bites you and breaks the skin. Common symptoms of Lyme disease include a rash around the bite, tiredness, headaches, and swollen lymph glands. If not caught and treated in its early stages, the effects of Lyme disease can cause arthritis, nervous system disorders such as meningitis, and heart rhythm problems.
Rats: While it is rare in the United States, if you ever come in contact with a rat (or even a mouse) you should be conscious of the effects of rat-bite fever. Typically, the infection is spread after you have been bitten or scratched by a rat with the disease or if you come in contact with any water or food that has been contaminated by their urine or feces. The disease first presents itself within a week of infection as sudden chills or fever, vomiting, joint pain, muscle aches and headaches. Within two to four days of the onset of the fever, the CDC says that you will probably notice a rash on your hands or feet and the swelling of joints. If you feel that you have contracted rat-bite fever, it is highly treatable with antibiotics as long as you contact a doctor. If you ignore the symptoms, then rat-bite fever can cause severe complications and may even become fatal.
Squirrels: When squirrels get into your home (usually in the attic), they will get into nearly everything including storage boxes that you use for your belongings. When you have a squirrel infestation, it’s important that you remove all traces of their feces and urine after you have had them trapped and taken away. Not only will the feces grow mold overtime, but they also carry salmonella which can make you sick. Salmonella usually presents itself by causing vomiting, stomach cramps and dehydration. Since there are numerous strands of salmonella, it is important that you visit a doctor for treatment as the illness may be similar to food poisoning or you may have become infected with a more serious and sometimes fatal variation.
As always, the best way to avoid having to be treated for any of these diseases associated with rodents in your home is to limit your contact with the animals. Instead of trying to handle the situation yourself (for instance setting up cages and trapping the animals), contact a pest control agency who is experienced in safely removing the pests and all of their associated dangers.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
