3 Hazards Of Living With A Rat Infestation

The thought of having your home taken over by rats is enough to fill any homeowner with dread.

But rat infestations are more common than you think. All it takes is for one or two rats to gain access to your home and breed. It doesn’t take long for their numbers to multiple and often it can happen without you realizing. Rats are experts at hiding and are often found inside walls and under floors. If you suspect you have a rat issue, it can be easy to hope it will go away by itself. But if you don’t act quickly, you could be faced with these potential issues.

Rat bites

Rat bites are something you and your family need to avoid at all costs. If you see a rat, it can be tempting to pick it up and remove it from your home. But if the rat bites you, it can pass on any diseases it is carrying while also being very painful. Rat-bite fever is one of the most common illnesses caused by these bites. The symptoms include vomiting, headaches, and a rash. To avoid contracting this and other serious illnesses, always hire an expert or use electronic rat traps. Make sure your children know about the dangers of handling rats to keep them safe too.

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Contaminated food

Rats will go to great lengths to get the food they need to survive. If they discover your kitchen, your favorite food and snacks could become compromised. All they need to do is bite into or leave dropping on or near to your food. This could be in your cupboards or on your work surfaces. If ingested, you could easily develop the infection Salmonellosis, which can cause a great deal of discomfort. So if you think you have a rat infestation, you need to check your cupboards thoroughly. You will also need to start storing your food and snacks in air-tight storage containers for extra protection.

Unhygienic air

You don’t have to touch or get bitten by a rat to get sick. When you have an infestation, the rodents will leave their urine and droppings around your home. This not only makes the surfaces around your home unhygienic, but it also contaminates the air you breathe. The droppings, hair, and urine produced by the rats goes on to create dust. When disturbed this tainted dust can be easily inhaled whether you mean to or not. This is enough to make you and your family very sick. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is an illness caused by unintentionally inhaling this contaminated air. It can also be contracted by touching the rat’s urine or droppings and then touching your mouth. It’s a serious condition that will require immediate medical attention and could be fatal.

As you can see, it’s vital that you act as soon as you find any sign of a rat infestation. Otherwise, the problem will only persist and could make your home unsafe for your family to live in. Contact a pest control expert to help you deal with your infestation swiftly and professionally.