Top 4 Diseases Caused by Rats in Memphis

Here in Memphis, rats and mice are heading in for the winter. Today, we have had a drop in temperature which will trigger even more rodents into nesting mentality. They are searching for small entry points in your homes and businesses and they love attic spaces.  Rodents will go out to find food and water and sneak back in to nest and breed.  Rodents are very much a health hazard for anyone around them as microscopic organisms can be spread very easily.  Here are four types of diseases caused by rats in this area:

• Hantavirus – Hantavirus is a life-threatening disease transmitted to humans by rodents—primarily, the white-footed deer mouse. People become infected through exposure or inhalation of infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva.  The chances increase when people are near spaces where rodents are actively living.
• Bubonic plague – Bubonic Plague is usually spread by the bite of an infected rodent flea and can cause fever, headache and painfully swollen lymph nodes.”
• Salmonellosis – Salmonellosis is a kind of food poisoning spread by rodent feces, especially through the consumption of contaminated food. Symptoms may include diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain.
• Rat-Bite Fever – Rat-bite fever (RBF) is a potentially fatal infectious disease spread by infected rodents or the consumption of food contaminated by rodents.

Any of these diseases can cause severe health risks, so if you are in doubt about your rodent activity, please give us a call or email so we can come  out and access your risk. We will look for rodent activity and access points. We may decide to use bait stations where activity is found.  Rosie’s Pest Control is fully licensed and up to date on current rodent removal techniques.