What Diseases Do Rats Carry in Manhattan, Kansas City Metro, and surrounding areas?

One of the most concerning parts about having rats or mice in your home or business is the potential health risks you may face from the diseases and bacteria they carry. Even if you do not directly touch a rodent, you are still susceptible to illness through indirect contact such as contaminated food or spending time in an infested area. In Manhattan, Kansas City Metro, and surrounding areas, rats and mice carry numerous harmful diseases.

Which Rodents Carry Diseases?

Unfortunately, almost all rodents are capable of disease transmission to humans and pets. Of the rodent family, rats and mice are the main culprits for invading living spaces. With their invasion comes the increased risk of bacteria and disease exposure. These pests can spread bacteria and illness through several ways, including their scratches, bites, or contact with feces and urine. Further, ticks, mites, or fleas also commonly live on rodents, leading to a greater risk of illness from these insects. Some rodents are associated with certain diseases. These rodents are ones you should be mindful of and include:

Deer mouse: This mouse is often found in rural or semi-rural areas and predominately carries salmonella and hantavirus. These mice may invade homes to look for food.
House mouse: The house mouse can thrive in urban and rural settings and is found globally. They are known to spread rat-bite fever.
Meadow vole: Meadow voles will often host ectoparasites like ticks and mice and can transmit tularemia (also referred to as rabbit fever).
Roof rat: These rats transmit numerous types of diseases including rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, murine typhus, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

Rodent-Borne Illnesses to Watch Out For

While illnesses spread by rodents aren’t always life-threatening, their bacteria can lead to more severe health complications if they are not treated properly. In Manhattan, Kansas City Metro, and surrounding areas, some of the potentially debilitating or life-threatening illnesses spread by rodents include:

Hantavirus: Deer mice typically transmit this disease and it is a serious respiratory illness that may lead to death. It begins with fever and chill symptoms but will soon require immediate medical attention.
Rat-bite fever: Most often spread via scratches or bites from infected rodents or after handling deceased rodents without implementing safety measures.
Leptospirosis: Often caused by rodents when water or soil is contaminated by the infected urine of an animal.
Salmonellosis: Often contracted through eating contaminated food. It is also spread through the feces of rodents.
Tularemia: Also known as rabbit fever, handling infected rodents (like the meadow vole) can lead to contracting this disease.
Murine Typhus: Transmitted by fleas that have bitten infected rodents.
Toxoplasmosis: Cats are often associated with toxoplasmosis, but rats can also carry the parasite. This infection can cause healthy adults to experience flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms of Rodent-Borne Illness

If you suspect that you have contracted a rodent-borne illness, it is vital to contact a doctor. This is especially true if you are aware of a nearby infestation or if you have recently handled a rodent. Initial symptoms for rodent-borne diseases commonly include:

Fever
Muscle pains
Dizziness
Vomiting
Headaches
Shortness of breath
Ulcers

Any of these symptoms should lead to a visit to your healthcare provider for an evaluation and treatment.

Take Care of Rat Infestations ASAP with American Pest Management

When rodents have been discovered on your property, it is in everyone’s best interest to contact a professional rodent exterminator, like American Pest Management. To protect the health of you and your loved ones, you need a team that will swiftly remove rats and mice. Contact us today to make sure they are removed and that they don’t return!

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