Diseases Spread by Rats and Mice: Millions of homes in America have rats. These rodents have access to free food and shelter. As a result, their population increases at such a rate that they become unbearable and a health risk for humans. Rats and mice are a health risk as they carry several dangerous diseases that could lead to serious illness. According to U.S. Census Bureau, mice quickly grow in numbers due to their year-round breeding and short gestation periods.
Transmission of disease to humans – How rodents do it?
So if you have seen a rat in your home, it’s time you take action. Start by understanding rodents and learning how they can transmit disease. Here are several possible routes for disease transmission from rats and mice to humans. Exposure to rodent waste One of the most common ways of disease transmission is through rodent waste, especially when you have a large number of rats and mice living in your home. Rodent bites It might sound strange but rodents can bite humans. When an infected rodent bites, it transmits the disease. Skin to skin contact Some diseases can transfer from skin to skin contact. Rodents can transmit these diseases without taking a bite.
Diseases Spread by Rats and Mice
Now that you understand the way rodents can transmit disease, it’s time to learn about the diseases they spread directly.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a fatal respiratory disease. Rodents can directly transmit this disease to humans. HPS can transmit to humans through contact with rodent infected by hantavirus. Bite and rodent waste are other possible channels of HPS transmission. Symptoms of HPS
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Muscle pain
- Headache and dizziness
- Chills and abdominal issues
- Shortness of breath
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) is a group of viral illnesses spread by rodents. The following diseases fall in this group.
- Epidemic hemorrhagic fever
- Korean hemorrhagic fever
- Nephropathia epidemica
Rodents can transmit this disease to humans through their waste. Humans who are exposed to rodent droppings or aerosolized urine are at the risk of HFRS. Breathing in an environment loaded with rodent waste could cause airborne waste particles to enter your body. Different rodent species such as striped field mouse, bank vole, brown rat, Norway ray, and yellow-necked field mouse can carry and transmit the HFRS infection to humans. Symptoms
- Intense headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Blurred eyes
- Chills
- Flushing of face
- Redness of eyes
- Low blood pressure
- Acute kidney failure
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by rodents, especially deer mice. It is transmitted by rodent tick bite. It’s one of the most common tick-brome diseases in the country. Symptoms
- Skin lesions
- Fever
- Headaches
- Arthralgias
Food poisoning
Salmonella or food poisoning causes the intestinal disorder. Rats and mice carry this disease and spread it through feces contamination.
Rat-bite fever
Rat-bite fever may continue for several months. It’s caused by rats and mice who carry the disease and transmit it to humans through bite or scratch. Below are some other common diseases that can be attributed to rats and mice.
- Typhus
- Plague
- Rickettsial (pox)
- Leptospirosis
- Plague (indirectly transmitted)
- Colorado tick fever (indirectly transmitted)
