RODENTS AS DISEASE VEHICLES

In the past century alone, more than 10 million people have died from rodent-borne diseases.  Although rodents are not major threats to our everyday health, it is justified to be concerned over the potential for rodents to transmit diseases. By their very nature and design, rodents make excellent “vehicles” for harboring and rapidly transporting diseases.

Let’s examine WHY ...

Co-Existence with Humans & Investigative Behavior

Rodents are well adapted to living with or in close proximity to humans.  They and their parasites share our homes. They nest and sleep in the furniture where we relax, sleep, and store our clothing – and we don’t even realize it.  Obviously, we are quite vulnerable to the potential spread of any pathogens carried by rodents.

Transporters of Pathogens & Parasites

Rodents harbor a wide range of parasites such as mites and ticks that carry lethal pathogens. Even without parasites, rodents can directly transmit deadly germs excreted in their urine and feces.

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles

Rodents fly with us, drive with us, and live on the ships, buses, and such that transport us and our food around the globe. A hitchhiking rodent with its hitchhiking parasites and pathogens can go from one end of the planet to another in the time it takes to fly aboard our super jets.

Bodily Excretion
In one week’s time rodents produce hundreds of fecal pellets and deposit urine in thousands of areas. The pathogens may also be deposited via saliva and blood spewed during rodent fights. Finally, rodents shed their hair daily and lose an entire coat twice a year.  In this way, millions of rodent hairs and hair fragments, possibly containing pathogens, are also deposited into our environment.

Prolific Breeders

Inside our buildings where food, water, and harborage are readily available, rodents can breed prolifically.  This results in tens or hundreds of rodents living and moving about in our homes. Disease organisms present within these populations can spread rapidly to infect areas, people, and pets.