Diseases caused by rats

There are numerous diseases caused by rats and other rodent  which some people are not aware of it. Today am going to discuss about some diseases caused by rats, how to know when you have a rat in your home, what damage they can cause and steps on to prevent rats influx in your home or garden.

Murine Typhus: Murine typhus (caused by infection with R. typhi) occurs worldwide and is transmitted to humans by rat fleas. Flea-infested rats can be found throughout the year in humid tropical environments, but in temperate regions are most common during the warm summer months.

Caution: Travelers who visit in rat-infested buildings and homes, especially in harbor or riverine environments, can be at risk for exposure to the agent of murine typhus.

Rat-bite fever (RBF): Rat-bite fever (RBF) is a systemic bacterial illness caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis that can be acquired through the bite or scratch of a rodent or the ingestion of food or water contaminated with rat feces.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium: As its name suggests, it causes a typhoid-like disease in mice. In humans S. Typhimurium does not cause as severe disease as S. Typhi, and is not normally fatal. The disease is characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and nausea, and generally lasts up to 7 days. Unfortunately, in immune compromised people, that is the elderly, young, or people with depressed immune systems, Salmonella infections are often fatal if they are not treated with antibiotics.

Leptospirosis: Is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans it causes a wide range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.

Two years ago leptospirosis attacked Malaysia and several Asian countries. However, various measures were taken by the Government and now Malaysia are free from Leptospirosis.

Caution: If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs.

Eosinophilic Meningitis: Eosinophilic meningitis is an infection of the brain occurring in association with an increase in the number of eosinophils, white blood cells that are associated with infection with worms that penetrate into the body. The organism most commonly causing eosinophilic meningitis is a rat lung worm called angiostrongylus cantonensis.

Signs of a Rat Problem

Rats are nocturnal (night walkers) and usually hide from humans, therefore typical signs to look for in the home and garden are:

Scratching noises: - in walls, under the floor or under decking as rats scurry (run around) around looking for food.

Distinctive smell: – rats leave an ammonia-like smell that will be particularly strong in enclosed areas such as under cupboards, in loft spaces, garages, sheds or under decking.

Damage – rats have teeth that grow continuously and gnaw (chew) on wood, plastic and even mild steel to keep them trim. Rats can even cause fires by chewing through cables and wiring.

Ripped food packaging – rats will tear open all types of packaging to find food which may leave teeth marks.

Nests: – rats build nests in warm, hidden places using shredded material such as newspaper, plastic and fabrics. Nests will often contain young rats.

Burrows: - In gardens, rats will dig burrows especially in compost heaps or under sheds. They will also build nests under garden decking.

Prevent rats influx

Step 1

Remove their food sources, water, and items that provide shelter for them.

Step 2

Seal up holes inside and outside the home to prevent entries. Hmm.. Where?

Where to you look for gaps or holes inside your home?

Check inside, under, and behind kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, stoves, inside the closets near the floor corners.

Check round the pipes under sinks, washing machines, around the pipes going to hot water heaters and furnaces.

Check around floor vents, dryer vents, inside the attic, in the basement and laundry room floor drains. Check between the floor and wall juncture.

Where to look for gaps or holes outside your home?

Check the roof among the rafters, gables, eaves, around windows and doors.

Check around the foundation, attic vents, crawl space vents and under the doors.

Check around holes for electrical, plumbing, cable, and gas lines.

Fill small holes with steel wool, cement, hardware cloth, or metal sheeting to fix large holes. 

Caution: If you do not remember to seal up entry holes in your home, rats or other rodents will continue to get inside.

Step 3

Clean Up Clean Up Clean Up

Clean up rodent food sources and nesting site and keep food in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids. Prevent contact with rats by cleaning up your home, workplace, campsite and eliminate possible rat’s food sources:

Keep food in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids and clean up spilled food right away wash dishes and cooking utensils soon after use. Keep outside cooking areas and grills clean.

Keep compost bins as far away from the house as possible (100 feet or more is best). Grains and animal feed should be kept in a thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids. 

Caution: If storing trash and food waste inside the home, do so in rodent-proof containers, and frequently clean the containers with soap and water. Dispose of trash and garbage on a frequent and regular basis, and pick up or eliminate clutter.

Eliminate possible nesting sites outside the home. Elevate hay, woodpiles, and garbage cans at least 1 foot off the ground. Get rid of old trucks, cars, and old tires that mice and rats could use as homes. Keep grass cut short and shrubbery within 100 feet of the home well trimmed.

Hawaiian man died after inhaling dried rat dropping

Lethal Rat Droppings / Rat Urine: Rumor claims a Hawaiian man died after inhaling dried rat droppings and/or inadvertently consuming rat urine.

Description: Email rumor

Circulating since: Sept. 1999

Status: Fictionalized, overblown

Email example contributed by Alpha Lau, Sep. 16, 1999

Subject: Be careful of Rats' droppings.

A stock clerk was sent to clean up a storeroom at their Maui location. He got back complaining that the storeroom was really filthy, and that he had noticed dried mouse or rat droppings in some areas.

A couple of days later, he started feeling like he was coming down with stomach flu, achy joints, headache, and he started throwing up. He went to bed and never really got up. Within two days he was so ill and weak. His blood sugar count was down to 66 and his face and eyeballs were yellow. He was rushed to the emergency at Pali Momi, where they said he was suffering from massive organ failure!

The doctor, in ER, transferred him to St. Francis Hospital and notifies all his relatives as he didn't had long to live. In ICU of St. Francis Hospital, a team of doctors were trying desperately to stabilize him. They said that even if by some miracle he pulled through, he would need a new liver, kidneys, pancreas and bladder. He died shortly before midnight.

None of us would have ever made the connection between his job and his death, but the doctors specifically asked if he had been in a warehouse or exposed to dried rat or mouse droppings at any time.

They said there is a virus (much like Hanta virus) that lives in dried rat and mouse droppings. Once dried, these droppings are like dust, and can easily be inhaled or ingested if a person is not careful to wash their hands and face thoroughly, or wear protective gear. An autopsy is being conducted to verify the doctors' suspicions and tissue samples have been sent to the CDC in Atlanta.

Caution: Please be extremely careful to always rinse off the tops of any canned sodas or foods, and wipe off pasta packaging, cereal boxes, etc. Almost everything you buy in a supermarket was stored in a warehouse at one time or another, and stores themselves often have rodents. I worked in grocery wholesaling long enough to know that even the cleanest store has mice or rats.

Whenever you buy any canned soft drink, please make sure that you wash the top with running water and soap, or if not available, drink with a straw. A family friend's friend died after drinking can of soda! Apparently, she did not clean the top before drinking from the can. The top was encrusted with dried rat's urine, which is toxic and obviously lethal!!!! canned drinks and other foodstuffs are stored in warehouses and containers that are usually infested with rodents and then get transported to the retail outlets without being properly cleaned.

Beware!!! Deadly Rat In Your Home and Backyard

This might be an old issue but not all of us is aware of this. I will discuss more about this in my next entry. hope you may find it useful for you and the whole community.

Published on Saturday 13 September 2008 19:36

A woman has died from a rare disease after she was scratched by a rat in her garden.

Carol Colburn was trying to free the rodent from her bird feeder when she suffered scratches and cuts to her fingers. Four days later she fell ill with flu-like symptoms and within 48 hours she had died.

Colburn, 56, had contracted Weil's disease, a severe form of leptospirosis which is caused by bacteria found in the urine of wild animals. Weil's disease, which affects around 10% of leptospirosis victims, causes jaundice and liver damage.

Around 50 cases of Weil's disease are reported every year in the UK, but it is rare for patients to die from the condition. Last night members of the public were warned not to put out food in their gardens that might attract wild animals like rats.

An inquest into Colburn's death heard that she rushed outside into her garden at her home in Brighton after hearing the rat screaming. She ignored requests from her husband and son to put gloves on and grappled with the animal as she tried to free it from the wire bird feeder. She began feeling unwell and later became jaundiced and could not move.

Marc Cubbon, a microbiologist at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton, told Brighton Coroners' Court that humans can become infected if they come into contact with the animal's urine, either in soil or in water, or if they come into contact with the animal's skin and they have an open wound.

He said it was also possible that humans might be able to inhale the disease. Cubbon said that after a conversation with Colburn at 2pm on May 8, he had begun considering leptospirosis. Three hours later she suffered a heart attack and died before either of her daughters, Katrina, 27, and Zoe, 30, were able to get to the hospital.

Katrina said: "My mum spent hours in the garden feeding wild animals and wouldn't have given it a thought. It has come as such a shock and seems like such a shame that trying to rescue an animal should have such dire consequences."  Cubbon's husband Peter has since died of lung cancer.

Deputy Coroner for Brighton and Hove, Arthur Hooper, recorded a narrative verdict, which means the circumstances of a death are recorded without attributing the cause to a named individual.

Hooper said: "The public should be made aware of the dangers of leaving food out that might attract animals like rats. If you must come into contact with rats please wear gloves."

Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, but this is only effective if administered within four to seven days of onset of the illness.

Credit to Scotsman.com