You come into the kitchen at midnight for a little snack only to find yourself face to face with a mouse when you flick on the light. Mice in your home aren’t too uncommon but you will need to get rid of them before it becomes a problem. Wild mice are notorious carriers of diseases so you should be careful when attempting to get rid of your unwanted house guest. It’s better to call in a professional to handle rodent control because they’ll be equipped with the tools to keep themselves safe.
Keep reading to see a list of all the diseases that cute little mouse may be bringing into your Clearwater home.
1. Hantavirus
The main carriers of the hantavirus are the white-footed mouse, the rice rat, and the cotton rat. You can catch the virus by coming into contact with rodent droppings or urine.
That’s why it’s so important to take the correct measures when cleaning up after a rodent infestation. You can get the virus by breathing in dust that is contaminated with urine.
Most symptoms include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and in some cases, death. There is no cure or vaccine for the hantavirus yet. So, if you feel like you’re not equipped with the tools to clean up after a rodent infestation, don’t be afraid to call someone to take care of it.
2. Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is another disease that is spread through rodent urine. You can catch it by coming into contact with contaminated food, water, or soil. It’s easy to have leptospirosis and not even realize that you do.
Some people don’t show symptoms at all or they confuse the disease with the flu. If leptospirosis is left untreated you could experience complications as severe as kidney failure, meningitis, and liver failure.
Keep in mind that rodents aren’t the only carriers of this disease. You can also catch it from cattle, pigs, raccoons, and even dogs.
3. Plague
Yes, the plague, notorious for wiping out millions of people in the Middle Ages, is still around. If you’re bitten by a flea that has fed on a rodent it’s possible that you’ll come down with it.
While it’s not quite as deadly as it once was you will still experience large and uncomfortable abscesses around your arms and legs. Other symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, and weakness.
You’ll need to go see a doctor and receive antibiotics as soon as your symptoms start. Failure to do so could result in death.
4. Tularemia
If you do happen to find a dead mouse in your house, don’t handle it without protection. If you do then you may contract tularemia. It can be passed to you if you handle rodent carcasses, get bitten by an infected flea, or eat contaminated food.
The symptoms that you experience all depends on how it enters your system. For example, if you inhale it then you may have chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing.
Tularemia can be treated with antibiotics. If you don’t seek some form of medical attention then it could lead to death.
5. Rat Bite Fever
As the name suggests you can catch rat-bite fever from being bitten, scratched, or from handling an infected rodent. There are two different versions of the disease. Viral and bacterial.
If you have the bacterial version then you’ll experience vomiting, fever, and headaches. The viral version causes an ulcer near an area where you were bitten, swollen lymph nodes, swelling near the bite, and a fever. If you don’t have rat-bite fever treated then it can cause death.
6. Salmonella
When you think of salmonella your mind probably goes to eggs or raw chicken. This isn’t the only source of the disease. You can also get it from rodents in your home.
Rodents carry salmonella in their digestive tracts so if you come into contact with their urine or feces then you may catch it. If you come down with it then you’ll experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.
For the most part, you may be able to deal with salmonella by yourself. If you’re experiencing severe problems then seek medical attention to get antibiotics.
7. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus
LCM can be found in all corners of the world. You can catch it by coming into contact with contaminated rodent droppings. You may not realize you have the disease at first because it shows itself as common flu symptoms.
After a while, it could escalate into meningitis or serious neurological problems. LCM won’t kill you but sometimes it could cause you to need to get brain surgery.
8. Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is mainly associated with fleas and ticks but they can spread it to the rodents that they bite. Rodents can then spread it to you through bites.
The most obvious symptom of the disease is a rash around the wound where you were bitten. Other symptoms include neck stiffness, headaches, facial palsy, heart palpitations, and arthritis.
If you leave Lyme disease untreated you could experience problems as serious as memory loss and brain inflammation.
Don’t Try to Take Care of Your Rodent Control Problem All Alone
If you’ve spotted a mouse in your Clearwater home, you’re best off letting the professionals handle the rodent control. While you can do it, you’re not equipped with the tools to stop yourself from contracting some of the common diseases that they carry.
You could become victim to rashes, fevers, and even death if you get bitten or touch a rodent corpse. Take precautions and get rid of your problem safely.
Looking for a company to handle your rodent issue? Contact us to request our services.