House mice: Cute and furry little critters full of diseases that can be harmful to your family!
The rodent population in Atlanta is second only to New York City, and there is an estimated 1:1 ratio of rodents to people. As their natural habitats have been destroyed due to city growth and expansion, the number of mice entering Atlanta's homes has risen considerably over recent years. If you've seen a mouse in your house, there are probably more beneath the surface. Mice live in familes of 10 to 20 and subscribe to a hierarchy that allows some of them to forage for food while others stay behind breeding even more mice. In a single year, a female house mouse can have up to 10 litters a year with up to 14 mice in each litter. Mice live in your walls and crawl spaces, urinating and defacating everywhere, and their excrement carries diseases which can make your family very sick. Some diseases carried by mice are:
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: Hantavirus is a severe and sometimes fatal respiratory disease that is caused by breathing in dust contaminated with rodent urine or droppings.
- Leptospirosis: A bacterial infection which can occur when a person comes into contact with food, water, or soil which has been contaminated with infected urine. Leptospirosis can cause flu-like symptoms and is often mistaken for other diseases.
- Tularemia: A disease transmitted most commonly by handling infected animal carcasses, tularemia can cause skin ulcers and pneumonia-like symptoms.
Mice can infect you and your family directly but they can also infect fleas and mosquitos who can then infect you. You never have to see a mouse in order to get sick. For a more complete list of the illnesses and diseases transmitted through mice, both directly and indirectly, check out the CDC's website. Before house mice make themselves permanent residents in your home, call Breda Pest Management to have your house inspected for signs of rodents. Their knowledgeable staff will look for entry points and seal them after extracting and exterminating your unwelcome guests. Protect your family's health through rodent pest management today!
