Are Mice Dangerous to my Family?
Mice might be a favorite of cartoonists, but they are hardly the Mickey or Jerry with matching clothes or fun antics to keep you entertained. In actuality, these are pests that can make you really sick. They can defecate and urinate on foods in your home, tear your precious clothes and bed sheets as well as transmit many diseases to you and your family members.
What are the Health Risks of Mice Infestation?
Mice carry many diseases with microbes. These are responsible for the transmission of the Hanta virus, and are also carriers of other parasites – like ticks and fleas. These also commonly trigger allergies. These rodents can lead to diseases like Polio, which can be a potentially fatal disorder unless prevented with a timely vaccine.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is caused when dust contaminated with droppings or urine of mice is inhaled or people come in direct contact with these mice wastes. This is a potentially fatal disease.
Leptospirosis – This condition occurs in many levels and forms, and is marked by meningitis, liver failure, kidney damage, jaundice, achy muscles, rashes and more.
Salmonella Typhimurium is a type of bacteria that is easily transmitted by mice. This kind of bacteria may lead to discomforting symptoms in the intestine, such as vomiting, nausea, cramps and loose stool. This specific form of bacteria is dispersed through foods that are contaminated by mice wastes, such as droppings, and it is the commonest reason for food poisoning.
How Do Mice Infest Homes?
Even if you have a house that is generally clean, there can always be the risk of mice getting in and spreading deadly diseases. They come in to search for food, so any location where food is prepared is susceptible to mice infestation. Rats and mice can enter your home through extremely small openings, and where none exist they can even chew their way in. Once they’re inside, they look for water, food and places where there is little or no human activity.
It is important to keep your home, especially the kitchen, perfectly clean because mice like to hang out there. Also clean the rest of your home, and remove all traces of food crumbs from the floors, table, chairs etc. Mice need food for survival, but they will also chew on wood or other parts of your home in order to create a nest. If you suspect you might have mice then you should seek advice from rodent control experts such as EcoTek Termite and Pest who are very familiar with all aspects of rodent elimination.