Rodents and the Health Risks They Pose

April 20th, 2017

Unless you’re living in a Disney movie like Cinderella or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, rodents are never welcome guests in your home. However, that doesn’t stop them from infiltrating your space and causing you significant problems. Worst of all, rodents don’t just cause you an inconvenience; they can also put your health at risk.

Rats and Mice

Rats and mice are two of the most prevalent springtime home invaders. Unfortunately, these rodents are very nimble and have the ability to squeeze into impossibly small spaces. Mice, for instance, can walk on thin wire and enter your home through an opening no bigger than a ballpoint pen. Once inside your home, mice and rats like to nest in dark, warm spaces like kitchens, garages, and attics. Both mice and rats experience reproductive peaks during the spring, which means that any rodent infestation during this time will multiply quickly and become a significant problem in your home.

Health Risks of Mice and Rats

Mice and rats both have the potential to cause significant harm to you and your family. They carry bacteria, diseases, parasites, and viruses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rodents have the potential to transmit a number of diseases to humans, including rat-bite fever, salmonellosis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, lassa fever, leptospirosis, and lymphocytic chorio-meningitis.

Even if you don’t recognize these illnesses, they’re usually caused by breathing in dust contaminated with rodent urine and droppings, bite wounds, or direct contact with the rodents. They carry serious health impacts like fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, vomiting, and abdominal pain. If not treated, many of these illnesses can have severe consequences like neurological damage, increased lung fluid, kidney damage, and respiratory distress.

Living with a rodent infestation in your home is dangerous and unpleasant, so don’t wait to call Green Solutions Lawn Care & Pest Control in Tampa. The experts at Green Solutions specialize in safely and effectively removing rodents from your home and eliminating all of the dangers associated with infestation. Call (813) 684-7336 today to make your appointment and rest easy knowing that you are living rodent-free.