As a longtime pest control company, we know that pests are not only pesky but can also damage or ruin your home. They can be a headache to remove, and an infestation can take over your entire home or property. Besides being a nuisance, rodents can also pose health hazards to you and your family. These pests can carry more than 35 diseases that are transmittable to your family and pets. These diseases can be transferred through the animals or droppings or through secondary sources such as ticks or fleas that used the rodent as a host.
Here are four diseases and health hazards these pests leave you prey to, according to our pest control specialists.
Hantavirus
The hantavirus is often carried through mice and rats. When an infestation of rats targets your home, you could be at risk. The virus is spread through the urine or droppings of mice, and it is airborne, meaning that just a breath of the virus could infect you. Symptoms usually take one to five weeks to show their signs after exposure. Hantavirus can turn more serious if caught late or untreated and turn into HPS (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome). HPS is a severe respiratory disease that can be fatal to young children, the elderly or those who already suffer from a pre-existing health condition.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM)
LCM is an infectious viral disease transmitted by the common mouse. LCM can also be transmitted through a pet hamster. If a person is exposed to droppings, urine or rodent bites, LCM could be in your body. LCM itself is not a deadly virus, but other illnesses such as meningitis that can be brought on from LCM can be fatal.
The Plague
When you hear about the plague, you may think that it's a disease from the Middle Ages. You would be right, but just know that the plague is still active even today. The plague and it's many strands are treatable with antibiotics, but may mock the symptoms of the flu.
Tularemia
Tularemia is a disease that can be transmitted through infected water, ticks and other pests, or inhalation. How tularemia enters the body will determine the disease and run of the infection and illness on your body. For example, if you have been exposed through contaminated water, you could develop Oropharyngeal infection. When any strand of tularemia goes untreated in your body, it will spread from the bloodstream to the lungs.
These diseases and many more can be transmitted by pests in your home. One of the best ways to prevent many pest diseases is to prevent the pests altogether. Make sure to look for the signs of pest problems and get rid of them before the problem gets out of hand.
