What diseases can rodents be carrying?

Rodent infestations in homes are more than just a nuisance—they can pose serious health risks. Mice, rats, and other rodents are known carriers of numerous diseases that can be transmitted to humans through direct contact or contaminated surfaces. With their rapid breeding and ability to infiltrate homes through even the smallest gaps, it’s important to understand the risks of rodent diseases.

Common types of rodent species in infestations

Common types of rodent species found in infestations include:

• House mice: Among the most common invaders in urban and suburban areas. Small and agile, they can squeeze through tiny openings and seek shelter in homes during cooler months.
• Norway rats: Large rodents typically found in basements, sewers, and other low-lying areas. Known for burrowing, Norway rats are aggressive foragers and can cause structural damage.
• Roof rats: More agile than Norway rats, these rodents prefer higher locations like attics, trees, and rooftops. They’re excellent climbers and typically found near coastal areas.
• Deer mice: Common in rural areas, they often enter homes, barns, and sheds, preferring secluded spots like attics or storage spaces.

These rodents are highly adaptable and can thrive in various environments, making them frequent culprits in household infestations.

How rodents transmit diseases

Rodents can transmit diseases to humans and pets in several ways:

• Direct contact: Diseases can be spread through bites or scratches from infected rodents.
• Indirect contact: Rodent droppings, urine, and saliva can contaminate food, water, and surfaces.
• Vector-borne transmission: Rodents can carry fleas, ticks, or mites that transfer diseases to humans and pets.
• Airborne transmission: Inhaling dust contaminated with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva can lead to diseases.

Diseases transmitted by rodents

Now that you understand how these pests transmit diseases, it’s important to be aware of the diseases that can be carried by rodents.¹

• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
  • Transmission: Primarily through inhaling dust contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, particularly from deer mice.
  • Symptoms: Early symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and chills. As the illness progresses, it can lead to severe respiratory distress.
• Leptospirosis
  • Transmission: Contact with water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected rodents and other animals.
  • Symptoms: Symptoms range from mild flu-like symptoms, such as headaches and muscle pain, to severe complications, like kidney damage, liver failure, or meningitis.
• Salmonellosis
  • Transmission: Consuming food or water contaminated by rodent feces.
  • Symptoms: Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, and vomiting, typically lasting four to seven days.
• Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)
  • Transmission: Through exposure to fresh urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials of infected rodents, typically house mice.
  • Symptoms: Fever, malaise, headaches, and muscle aches. In severe cases, it can cause meningitis or encephalitis.
• Plague
  • Transmission: Rats, such as roof rats or Norway rats, are known carriers of fleas, which can spread rodent diseases like the plague, although this disease is rare.
  • Symptoms: Sudden onset of fever, chills, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes. If untreated, the disease can progress to septicemia or pneumonia.
• Rat-Bite Fever
  • Transmission: Through bites or scratches from infected rodents or contact with contaminated surfaces or food.
  • Symptoms: Fever, vomiting, muscle pain, and a rash. Without treatment, it can lead to more severe complications.
• Tularemia
  • Transmission: Can be contracted by handling infected rodents or through bites from ticks carried by rodents.
  • Symptoms: Skin ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, fever, and, in more severe cases, respiratory issues.
• Typhus
  • Transmission: Spread by fleas that have fed on infected rodents.
  • Symptoms: High fever, headache, chills, rash, and, in some cases, severe complications affecting organs like the liver and lungs.

Rats and mice pose serious health risks, and their presence in or around your home should be addressed promptly to prevent the spread of rodent diseases.

How to help prevent and manage rodent infestations

Homeowners should take steps to prevent rodent infestations, as rodent diseases can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with droppings or urine. Here are some ways to help prevent rodents from being attracted to your home:

• Store food securely in airtight containers.
• Declutter to remove potential hiding spots.
• Dispose of waste properly in tightly sealed trash cans.
• Seal gaps around doors, windows, and vents.
• Trim vegetation to prevent rodents from accessing your home.

If you’re unsure whether you have a rodent infestation, check for the following signs:

• Droppings in pantries or along walls.
• Gnaw marks on wires or wood.
• Nests made of shredded paper or fabric.
• Scratching sounds at night.

There are ways you can help prevent and manage rodent infestations, but contacting Terminix for rodent control and exclusion is your best solution. We create tailored removal plans that help remove rodents, and our exclusion services help prevent them from returning. 

Mice and rats are also covered with our ongoing pest control plan, PestFree365.2 An initial interior and exterior inspection will help identify what rodents are present, the size of the infestation, and how these pests are entering your home. Our regularly scheduled treatments can help keep these pests from reinfesting your home. Schedule your inspection today!

¹ Disease information provided by CDC.

² Coverage includes: "House" Ants, Bird Mites, Indoor Ticks, Cockroaches, Carpet Beetles, Fabric Moths, Overwintering Insects, Ground Beetles, Centipedes, Crickets, Earwigs, Firebrats, Millipedes, Clover Mites, Pillbugs/Sowbugs, Psocids, Scorpions, Silverfish, Paper Wasps, Springtails, Spiders, Stored Product Beetles, Stored Product Moths, Mice, and Rats.