Rodent infestations are a significant public health concern in both urban and rural environments. Rats and mice, the two more frequent types of rodents, are famous for transmitting various diseases, contaminating food supplies, and causing structural damage to multiple buildings.

The fact that they are highly adaptable, reproduce quickly, and are located near human populations makes them challenging to control. The problem worsens through inadequate sanitation, poor waste management, leaving food in open spaces, not keeping the garbage lid closed, etc.

Residents in Cimarron Hills should take necessary precautions when dealing with these pests. They can be notorious if timely intervention is not taken. If they infest your homes, it can get challenging to get them out of your property. You can reach out to Mug-A-Bug Pest & Termite Control to get rid of rodents.

What are the dangers of a Mouse or Rat Infestation?

There are several infectious diseases that rodents harbor, and they pose a risk to humans-—respiratory pathogens and infections that can be transmitted through direct or indirect methods. Let us look at just a few of the diseases that are concerned with rodent infestations:

1. Leptospirosis:

A bacterial infection that is transmitted through the urine of infected rodents and commonly contaminates water supply. Humans can become infected when they come into contact with water or soil that has been contaminated by the feces of an animal carrying Leptospira.

2. Hantavirus (carried in rodent saliva, urine, and droppings:

It is a significant problem, particularly in rural areas). Breathing in dust from dried rodent droppings can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which is very serious and fatal.

3. Salmonellosis:

Rodents can carry the bacteria that causes salmonella infection and contaminate food prep areas or food. Salmonellosis is a typical food poisoning induced by salmonella (rodent feces) in ingested food, which causes signs and symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever in humans.

4. Plague:

The causative agent is Yersinia pestis, which is transmitted by flea bites of the fleas that feed on infected rodents. Plague is now rare but can still occur, particularly in areas with poor rodent control.

5. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV):

Carried by house mice and can be transmitted to humans through exposure to contaminated dust, urine, or droppings. Dr Alcami said that LCMV usually causes a mild flu-like illness, but in the worst cases, it can cause neurological disease.

What can cause rodent infestations?

Many reasons often lead to widespread rodent infestations, most of them stem from human activities.

● Inventory:

Lack of sanitation, improper waste disposal, and crowded housing are creating the perfect environment for these rats to thrive.

● Agricultural Practices:

Poor storage of crops and grains in rural areas attracts rodents, facilitating infestation that impacts public health as well as the economy.

● Global Trade and Travel:

Rodents are frequently transported globally in shipping containers, airplanes, and other vehicles, allowing the migration of rodent infestations.

What are the Transmission Pathways for different rodent diseases?

There can be many different pathways for the spread of the diseases, some of which are discussed here:

● Contact:

These are the diseases that, as direct contact rodents touch, also occur in our urine, feces, or saliva. This is possible when touching such contaminated food, water, or household surfaces.

● Indirect contact:

Diseases carried by rodents may be spread to humans through fleas, mites, or ticks that have fed on an infected rodent and then bite a human. In particular, fleas that are biting infected rats can spread the plague to humans.

● Contaminated food and water:

Rodents frequently chew at packaging materials to get to their food supplies, making them contaminate their droppings and urine.

Save your home from rodent infestation!

Pest control services in Cimarron Hills can help residents get rid of these pests. They are not only a nuisance around the house but are capable of causing much structural damage and spreading diseases as well.