Normal, IL Rodent Control

Rodents can cause extensive damage to homes by chewing through wiring, destroying furniture, putting holes in walls, and more. But that is nothing compared to the  damage they can wreak on the health of you and your family due to their proclivity for spreading diseases. Some of the worst diseases that rodents can put you at risk for include:

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM) – This disease is caused by the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and can be contracted through direct contact with the saliva, nesting materials, and excrements of infected mice and rats. When infected, people may experience flu-like symptoms in the first phase of the disease that become increasingly debilitating and, in more extreme cases, infected individuals can experience inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, increased fluid on the brain, or even inflammation of the heart muscles.

Hantavirus – Hantavirus is actually a group of several different debilitating virus’ that can infect a person’s respiratory system, kidneys, or blood and, in some serious cases, is fatal. Rodents can pass hantavirus through bites, direct contact with mouse urine or droppings, or if droppings or nesting materials get shifted enough to cause the disease to become airborne.

Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) – HFRS is actually a subfamily of hantavirus’ that includes: nephropathia epidemica, Korean hemorrhagic fever, and epidemic hemorrhagic fever. Depending on the specific virus that caused the HFRS, the systems can vary in severity from more basic symptoms to drastic and life-threatening effects. Due to the vast varieties of the disease, a mortality rate for cases is difficult to nail down however the average seems to be between 1%-15% of cases are potentially fatal. If caught early, an antiviral drug can be administered to curb the effects of the disease and greatly decrease the virus’ chances to advance to a fatal stage.

Black Plague – Caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, the Black Plague is a very detrimental disease and is spread by the fleas on rodents. While the plague is mainly perceived as a historical illness, it is still prevalent today, although thankfully, our modern medicine can now treat the bacteria if caught early enough. Those who contract the disease and do not seek treatment following the appearance of symptoms, can actually die within a week.

While some of these diseases are thankfully treatable, prevention is the best course of action when it comes to any of these mice-borne diseases.