All You Need to Know About Rat Diseases

Apart from seeing rat droppings in hidden corners of the office, there might be a foul smell as well as a few rat diseases that you begin to catch.

The worst part about having a rat infestation is how frustrating it can be to get sick due to the rats. If you come in direct contact, then rat bites or scratches can result in a high fever. If you come in contact with rat urine, then you are at a greater risk of having leptospirosis, which could eventually lead to serious kidney and liver disease.

To know more about the various health complications and how to prevent them, here is everything you need to know about rat disease.

Viral Infectious Disease

One of the most commonly caught rat diseases is Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM). Apart from the high fever that this disease brings, you might also experience severe headaches, loss of appetite, and nausea during the initial states of catching this disease. Since LCM is recognized as a neurological disease, you may experience meningitis symptoms such as a stiff neck and acute hydrocephalus or an increased amount of fluid in the brain. While not everyone experiences such extreme symptoms of LCM, the disease can be quite scary to catch, especially if you suspect a rat infestation in the house.

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis is primarily spread through either the saliva or the urine of rats. This means that if you find rodents in your house, it is important to evacuate the place immediately and call the professionals for a thorough pest control service.

Direct and Indirect Transmission of Disease

If you want to know more about rat disease, then you should understand that the diseases can be grouped into two main categories: direct transmission and indirect transmission. Direct transmission is by coming into contact with rat faeces, urine, or saliva – such as the transmission of lymphocytic choriomeningitis. On the contrary, indirect transmission could be through an intermediary animal such as fleas or mites who have been exposed to rat-infected saliva.

1. Directly Transmitted Rat Disease

Having rats in your house can be a great cause for concern, but your immediate reaction must be to avoid directly interacting with rat-infected saliva or urine without protective gear. One of the most common diseases directly transmitted by rats is the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome – a viral disease that you can catch simply by inhaling dust that has been contaminated by a rat.

If rats have made their way to your swimming pool or drinking water, then you are at risk of getting a leptospirosis infection which is a bacterial, water-borne disease. Eating food or drinking water that has been infected by a rat can also cause salmonellosis.

Even if you are only cleaning up dead rats, you need to be extra careful to not expose your bare hands to the body. Rat-bite fevers are common, even if you are only scratched by a live rat or are disposing of a dead rat.

2. Indirect Transmission of Rat Disease

Plague and tick fever are the two most common cases of indirect rat disease transmission. Even if you do not encounter a rodent in your house yourself, you can still be at risk due to the fleas or ticks in your garden. Both fleas and ticks can be carriers of viral disease that is transmitted by domestic rats.

The Solution

The best way to handle a rat infestation in your house is to call Van Vynck Environmental to perform a thorough pest control survey. Not only is their team professionally trained to handle any type of domestic infestation, but they are committed to providing the highest quality of service to all their clients.

If you are worried about having rats in your house, get in contact with Van Vynck Environmental today and find an easy solution to all of your problems.