Are Rodents a Danger to Families?

In this article, IPM Pest & Termite – conveniently located in Lexington, Kentucky (KY) – is here to tell you whether rodents are a danger to your family’s health. Contact us today for all of your pest exterminating needs.

Besides invading your home, rodents also pose a health hazard to your family. These pests are able to transmit a number of diseases, and their droppings can cause illness as well. Colder temperatures force rodents to seek a cozy place to nest, which is why roughly 21 million houses in America become infested each winter. The best way to protect your family is through prevention and, if necessary, swift elimination of the invasion. If your home has rat or mice, you need to contact an exterminator as soon as possible.

Across the globe, rodents are responsible for spreading over 35 diseases. The infections can occur in numerous ways. Humans can acquire the illnesses directly, by handling of the rats or mice, or by being bit by the rodent. It can also happen as the result of making contact with the urine, saliva, or feces that a rodent has left behind. Fleas, ticks, or mites that have fed on an infected rodent can also transfer diseases to humans too. So while people may not come into contact with vermin, they can still be infected indirectly.

Hantavirus is one of the potential diseases that can harm your household. This virus is primarily caused by rodent infestations near and in the home. When fresh rodent nesting materials, urine, or droppings are stirred up and become airborne, the contaminants are then inhaled by people. Infections can also be caught by being bit. Symptoms can develop within one to five weeks of exposure to the toxins. The disease can also progress to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which can be fatal. Currently there is no cure, treatment, or vaccine for Hantavirus. Acute medical care is the best method for recovery.

Rodents are also carriers of the plague. The disease is spread through directly making contact with infected vermin or by the bite of infected fleas. There are a few varieties of the plague that can be transmitted, such as bubonic, septicemic, or pneumonic. The plaque is extremely dangerous, but can be treated with antibiotics. However, prompt treatment is necessary or the disease can lead to severe illness or death. Patients that receive medical care in the earliest stages of the sickness have the highest chances of making a full recovery.

The plague and Hantavirus is just a couple of the risks that rodents pose to your family. Other infections include tularemia, salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, leptospirosis, and lymphocytic chorio-meningitis. Effective rodent control is your family’s safest method to protect them from disease. If your home has a pest problem, promptly contact an exterminator.

IPM Pest & Termite is a name you can trust for effective pest control solutions that are safe for your family, pets, house, business, and the environment. Our specialty is treating bed bugs, termites, ants, centipedes, spiders, and other nuisances. We also offer mice and wildlife removal services, so your home can be rid of vermin and their health hazards they carry. We are located in Lexington, KY to provide our pest elimination services to the surrounding area including Nicholasville, Georgetown, Versailles, Winchester, and Richmond, as well as these neighborhoods: Cumberland Hills, Waterford, Copperfield, Masterson Station, Palomar, Equestrian Woods, Pinnacle, and Firebrook. Call us today to schedule an appointment.