Rats and rodents are among the most abundant mammals with 2200 species found in almost every part of the world. They can flourish both in urban and rural environments and disrupt your life to a very great extent.
Rodents are also known to carry pathogens that can transmit dangerous diseases to humans and that is why you need to control them before they pose some great risk to your health. Rodents are known to carry the germs of about 35 diseases some of which can be life-threatening if not caught and treated at an early stage.
In this article, we are going to list some of the most common diseases that these creatures spread so that you can identify them before it is too late. We will also share some pest control measures that you can use to limit their effect on your health so stay with us till the end.
Common Disease that Rodents Spread
Here are some of the most common diseases that rodents can transmit to humans:
1. Hantavirus
This virus comes from the faeces, saliva, and urine of rodents and there are no vaccines, antibiotics, or other proven treatments for it yet. Early symptoms of this virus include fatigue, fever, nausea, abdominal complaints, chills, and dizziness. Patients might also experience shortness of breath, coughing, and ultimately respiratory failure from this virus. Regular pest inspections can help you identify and prevent the risk of this dangerous disease caused by rodents.
2. LCV (Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus)
This is usually caused by house mice and is accompanied by symptoms like headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, and nausea. It can also lead to severe neurological conditions like meningitis and encephalitis.
3. Salmonella
The germs of this disease are found commonly in the digestive tract of rodents. Humans can get this disease if they come into contact with the fecal matter of rodents. Humans can also get this virus from contaminated food, water, and bedding.
4. Rat-Bite Fever
This fatal illness can affect you if you handle infected rodents carelessly or consume food or water contaminated with rodents’ feces or urine. This disease comes with symptoms like high fever and skin rashes which can gradually get much worse.
5. Tularemia
The symptoms of this disease are skin infections, fever, and joint pains. This bacterium is transmitted by wild rodents and can be fatal if not treated early with antibiotics.
6. The Plague
Rodents can carry this disease to humans through infected fleas. It can lead to sores or abscesses in the glands of the arms and legs. It can also affect the immune system, blood, and lungs. This plague is treatable with antibiotics.
7. Cysticercosis
This disease can spread to humans after consuming meat that is infected by the Taenia Solium parasite. The symptoms may include seizures, headaches, lack of attention, etc. The symptoms of this disease may differ for different individuals which makes diagnosis quite difficult.
8. Leptospirosis
This disease is caused by the bacterium Leptospira. You can get this disease if you come in contact with surfaces contaminated by the urine of rodents. The symptoms may include red eyes, headache, high fever, muscle aches, fever, and chills.
If left untreated it can even lead to kidney or liver failure and meningitis. This disease is treatable with antibiotics like penicillin or doxycycline.
How to Control and Prevent Rodent Infestations
Here are a few things you can do to prevent pest infestation in your commercial and residential properties:
1. Seal Entry Points
Inspect the interior and exterior of your house for possible holes and cracks that can serve as entry points for rodents. Examine your pipes, vents, doors, windows, and utility lines carefully. After locating possible entry points, you can seal the holes using caulk or some other sealant to ensure nothing gets past these.
2. Use Rodent Traps
Use proper locations, bait, and traps to catch rodents that are already in your house. You can use snap-style traps to instantly kill rodents. Make sure to use tamper-resistant bait stations since they can hold the bait firmly and are not dangerous for your kids or pets. Place the traps or baits at points where you find droppings and gnaw marks frequently to increase your chances of success.
3. Clean and Disinfect Your House
After sealing the house and getting the rodents out with the trap, you need to put on your mask and gloves and disinfect your place. First, throw out contaminated food and then clean all the surfaces with water and some quality disinfectant.
4. Clean Up Your yard
If there are piles of debris, garbage, or clutter in your yard, then remove these as soon as possible. You also need to clean up plants, shrubs, and bushes from your yard since they can serve as a nesting place for rodents.
5. Use Mint to keep rodents at Bay
Rats and rodents despise the scent of the mint. So, use peppermint oil on your attic beams and other expected areas where you can find rodents. You can also place mint plants outside in your yard to add an extra layer of protection.
6. Contact Professional Pest Control
If you are not confident in your ability to get rid of the rodents, then you can hire a professional pest control service to take care of this for you. These people have all the necessary materials and a lot of experience with handling rodent infestations. You can use their services to get rid of rodents from your property without wasting any of your time or energy.
Final Thoughts
Rodents are carriers of a great number of diseases and that is why you need to make sure your house or commercial property is free of these at all costs. The feces, saliva, urine, and nesting material of these creatures can be really harmful to your health.
If you use the services of professional pest control, regularly disinfect your place, and adopt good cleaning habits, you can easily make sure you never have to suffer from any of the above-mentioned diseases caused by rodents. Visit Lulu Pest Control for expert pest control services in Dubai, UAE.