Diseases you can catch from Household Pests

It’s fairly common knowledge that household pests can damage your property and just generally be a nuisance, but did you know they can spread disease too? In fact, many household pests can transmit diseases to humans as well as other animals (including any pets you have in the house). With this in mind, it’s a good idea to be clued up on the potential health risks of pests. We have put together a list of just some of the most common diseases you can catch from household pests.

Rats certainly carry the most diseases out of all the household pests

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Hantavirus

Although mostly found in dry and mountainous areas, such as New Mexico, this disease is also found throughout Europe too. Hantavirus tends to impact those who have been bitten by a rodent such as a mouse or rat, or in those that have handled rodent urine or faeces. Infections with this disease can severely damage the kidneys or cause pneumonia, perhaps even both. There is also no current medication to treat the disease. It is therefore imperative that your home is kept rodent free and any pests you do notice are dealt with in the proper way. Never try to catch mice or rats yourself, always make sure you find a specialist to do this for you. The same applies with cleaning rodent urine or faeces.

Histoplasmosis

This is the most common disease picked up by those that have a bird pest issue on their property. Histoplasmosis is caused by inhaling the fungus surrounding bird mess, usually when cleaning it off a building or when exposed to it for long periods of time. This disease can cause a person to feel lethargic, along with bringing on chest pains and fever. It can also cause further illness if not treated correctly. If you notice an influx of birds in or around your property, then you will need to have them dealt with in the right way. Bird proofing is also an excellent way to protect you from the potentially harmful Histoplasmosis.

You may think the plague is something of the past, but it can still be caught from household pests

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Plague

Believe it or not, people can still get the plague, or ‘The Black Death’; however, there have been a lot fewer cases than there were in the past. This is generally because we live in much more sanitary conditions than we used to! Although it is rare, it can still become a problem if your home plays host to infected rats. The bacteria which causes this disease tends to live on fleas, which then live on rats. The fleas then tend to make their way onto a pet in the home, before biting humans. This disease can be extremely dangerous, so it is always good to be vigilant. Make sure your home is completely free from rats and that your pets do not bring any dead (or half eaten) rodents into the property. If your pet does have fleas then ensure they’re treated right away, along with getting the home thoroughly cleaned.

Rabies

Although rabies isn’t as common in the UK as it is in other parts of the world, it is still a deadly disease which can be caught from pests. The infection is usually transferred through a bite which can come from nearly any animal, including squirrels, mice, rats, dogs, badgers and bats. By ensuring you do not have a pest issue with any small animals or rodents, you will be able to reduce your risk of getting rabies to almost nothing. If you suspect a pest problem then get in touch with a removal specialist, in order to deal with the issue right away.

Typhus

Typhus is another disease which used to be a huge problem in the past, but seems to have calmed down significantly. Saying that, there have been epidemics in Europe during the 20th century, and there are still many people dying from this disease around the world. Typhus is transmitted through mites, lice or fleas on rats. Without treatment it is likely that this disease will kill. It is important, then, to ensure your home is free from rats and any of the mites, lice or fleas that they may have bought in with them.

If you’re worried about a pest issue and the potential risks, then make sure you get in touch for impartial advice. We are able to locate the source of the problem and deal with pests quickly and efficiently; reducing your risk of contracting one of the above diseases.

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