Reasons to call a professional to handle your rat infestation

Diseases directly transmitted by rodents:

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Rodent(s) involved – Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), Cotton rat (Sigmodon Hispidus), Rice rat (Oryzomys palustris), White-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)
Agent – Virus
Where the disease occurs – Throughout most of North and South America

How the disease spreads

Breathing in dust that is contaminated with rodent urine or droppings
Direct contact with rodents or their urine and droppings
Bite wounds, although this does not happen frequently

Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome

Rodent(s) involved – Striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), brown or Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), yellow-necked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollis)
Agent – Virus
Where the disease occurs – Primarily in eastern Asia, Russia, Korea, Scandinavia, western Europe, and the Balkans

How the disease spreads

Breathing in dust that is contaminated with rodent urine or droppings
Direct contact with rodents or their urine and droppings
Bite wounds, although this does not happen frequently
The disease may spread through direct contact from person to person, but it is extremely rare

Lassa Fever

Rodent(s) involved – Multi-mammate rat (Mastomys natalensis species complex)
Agent – Virus
Where the disease occurs – West Africa

How the disease spreads

Breathing in dust that is contaminated with rodent urine or droppings
Direct contact with rodents or their urine and droppings
Eating food that is contaminated with rodent urine or droppings
Bite wounds, although this does not happen frequently
The disease may spread through direct contact from person to person

Leptospirosis

Rodent(s) involved – Rodents and other animals
Agent – Bacteria
Where the disease occurs – Worldwide
How the disease spreads

Eating food or drinking water contaminated with urine from infected animals
Contact through the skin or mucous membranes (such as inside the nose) with water or soil that is contaminated with the urine from infected animals

Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis (LCM)

Rodent(s) involved – House mouse (Mus musculus)
Agent – Virus
Where the disease occurs – Worldwide
How the disease spreads

Breathing in dust that is contaminated with rodent urine or droppings
Direct contact with rodents or their urine and droppings
Bite wounds, although this does not happen frequently

Plague

Rodent(s) involved – Wild rodents, including rock squirrels, prarie dogs, wood rats, fox squirrels and other species of ground squirrels and chipmunks
Agent – Bacteria
Where the disease occurs – Western US, South America, Africa, Asia
How the disease spreads

Bite of an infected flea
Direct contact with infected animal

Rat-Bite Fever

Rodent(s) involved – Rats and possibly mice
Agent – Bacteria
Where the disease occurs – Worldwide; Streptobacillus moniliformis in North America and Europe; Spirillum minue in Asia and Africa
How the disease spreads

Bite or scratch wound from an infected rodent, or contact with a dead rodent
Eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated by rat feces

Salmonellosis

Rodent(s) involved – Rats and mice
Agent – Bacteria
Where the disease occurs – Worldwide
How the disease spreads

Eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated by rat feces

Tularemia

Rodent(s) involved – Wild rodents, including muskrats, ground squirrels and beavers
Agent – Bacteria
Where the disease occurs – Worldwide
How the disease spreads