What diseases do mice spread?

Contracting diseases is something that every household would want to avoid. It is not only stressful financially, it is also overwhelming emotionally and psychologically especially if the ones affected are your children who are very susceptible to these bacteria and viruses.

There are many ways to catch a disease and while most of us would think that we could get infection outside our homes, sometimes, the culprit may just be inside our house, lurking in its dark corners. Yes, we are talking about rodents and other critters that may bring some of these zoonotic diseases inside your household:

1. Salmonellosis. Salmonellosis is a disease caused by a bacterium called Salmonella. Salmonella bacterium can be found in fecal droppings of rodents such mice and rats as well as raccoons. It is a type of food poisoning in humans. Salmonella resides in the intestinal tract of humans and some animals.
2. Leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira. It is a spiral-shaped bacterium that causes illness to animals and humans. Rats and mice are primary hosts. Infection can arise when humans come in contact with urine of infected animals or anything that has been contaminated by their urine such as water, food or even soil. The bacteria infiltrate the body through the eyes, nose or mouth and any cuts or open wounds or by ingesting contaminated food or water.
3. Rat-Bite Fever. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Rat-Bite Fever or RBF can be fatal to humans if left untreated. They can be transmitted if you are bitten or scratched by an infected rodent or by even just handling rodents with the disease. People infected with RBF may have fever, joint pains, swollen lymph nodes and rash.
4. Tularemia. According to the CDC, Tularemia is a disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Rodents are susceptible to this bacterium. If you suspect that they are rodents inside your home, be extra careful in ingesting foods and water as they may be contaminated.
5. Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis (LCMV). This disease is specific to rodents such as rats and mice, even squirrels. It is a viral infectious disease and is commonly hosted by the house mouse. LCMV infection can be transmitted by exposure to fresh urine, droppings and even nests of infested mice. This causes neurological disease that can result to other complications such as hydrocephalus or increased fluid in the brain.
6. Lyme Disease. Ticks most commonly found in mice, squirrels and bats transmit Lyme disease. People infected with this disease may include malaise, fatigue and if left untreated, can develop to neurological or cardiac problems.  
7. Bubonic Plague. Fleas often found in rats and ground squirrels can carry this disease. People infected by the bubonic plague suffer from acute pneumonia, which is fatal.

These are just some of the zoonotic diseases that these furry creatures may bring inside your home. Some of these diseases can prove to be fatal especially if you have children with weak immune system. It is therefore highly encouraged to get rid any wildlife infestation at its onset so that your problems will not multiply exponentially.

When you encounter mouse droppings inside your house, immediately call wildlife control companies like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control Truro. Solving rodent infestation on your own may be tricky and many DIY measures fail. Traps and poisons  don’t do anything to identify how the mice are getting in.

Skedaddle’s Truro wildlife control technicians are trained to draw out any unwanted wildlife guests from your home and stop their re-entry with proven effective and humane methods. With twenty-six years experience, you can rest assured that the methods Skedaddle applies minimize injury and stress to animals and are effective for homeowners.