Do mice carry diseases? Yes, they do. This is why you need to protect your home — and your family — from these pests. This is especially true if you or your loved ones experience allergies or live with asthma or other respiratory diseases.
Just considering lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a reported
5% of house mice across America carry this disease. This excludes all the other diseases mice can carry.
However, you can implement
proper pest control measures to keep them from entering your home.
What Diseases Do Mice Carry?
If you’re wondering, “What disease do mice carry?”, the answer is “several.” They can carry lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), Hantavirus (HPS), Leptospirosis, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, Typhus, and Plague.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)
Any exposure to mice saliva, droppings, or urine can transmit LCMV. It usually has to be fresh fluids and excrement, however. The virus is also transmitted via nesting materials, which is why you should always wear disposable gloves and thoroughly disinfect any mouse nesting areas.
If these substances come into contact with broken skin, eyes, noses, or mouths, the disease can be transmitted. Currently, it’s not suspected that you can transmit this virus from one person to the next.
LCMV can cause neurological diseases such as febrile illness, so always protect yourself, your family, and your pets.
Hantavirus (HPS)
“What kinds of diseases do mice carry?” is a popular question for anyone who suspects rodents are living in or around their home. This includes attics, walls, basements, sheds, and more. If you’ve Googled common diseases, you may have come across
Hantavirus (HPS).
People can catch HPS through an infected rodent’s saliva, urine, and feces. Although less common, it’s possible to catch HPS if an infected rodent bites a person. HPS is most commonly associated with deer mice and white-footed mice. Rice rats and cotton rats also transmit it.
Do All Mice Carry Disease?
For starters, house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats have reportedly
never transmitted HPS to a person. Although diseases in mice droppings are a common concern for homeowners, some mice pose a greater risk than others.
It’s important to note that rodents — mice and rats included — can cause a number of health issues. These two rodents can transmit more than 35 different diseases, making them a nuisance you don’t want in your house.
When you handle any type of rodent or come into contact with their urine, saliva, or feces, you’re putting yourself and your family at risk. The same goes for rodent bites.
Do Mice Carry Disease? Yes
To prevent rodents from infesting your house, it’s best to contact a professional. From there, they can work to reduce or remove possible entry points, sealing them as they find them.
You can also use mouse traps. Humane traps allow you to release the animal far from your home. Just be mindful of diseases, and always wear gloves and wash your hands afterward. When going this route, it’s best to use soft cheese or peanut butter to lure these critters out.
If you suspect mouse activity in one part of your home, place a series of humane mouse traps 2-3 feet apart, all along the wall. You can place them closer together if you suspect multiple mice or an infestation.
You should also keep your home clean and sanitized. Keep food in sealed containers, vacuum frequently, clean up debris from your yard (ensuring it’s far from your house), and cover garbage cans. Although this won’t get rid of any mice already in your home, it works to deter new ones from coming inside.
Pest Prevention in Sussex County, NJ
Do mice carry disease? Absolutely. If you need help with removing pests in Sparta, NJ, Serene Property Services can help. We offer all different types of pest removal plans, including routine
pest inspection.
We’ll work with you to discuss your needs, checking your property for signs of rodents and possible entry points. We’ll then create a custom plan for your home.
Contact us today for an estimate.
