Rat and mouse articles · Updated
Rodent diseases in Texas: what to know
Rodents can spread disease through droppings, urine, saliva, bites and fleas. In Texas the ones to know are hantavirus, leptospirosis, rat-bite fever and flea-borne typhus. Wet droppings before cleaning them, never sweep or vacuum them dry, and see a doctor if you're bitten or get sick after rodent exposure.
Most people with rats or mice in the house don't get sick. But rodents do carry germs, and a few diseases are worth knowing about, mostly so you clean up the right way. This article sums up what the CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services say. It's general information, not medical advice. If you're sick or bitten, call a doctor.
Hantavirus
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is rare but serious. The CDC names the deer mouse, white-footed mouse, rice rat and cotton rat as the North American rodents that can carry the hantaviruses that cause it. Not every animal carries the virus, and you can't tell which ones do, so the CDC advises avoiding all wild mice and rats.
The CDC says people get infected mainly by breathing in virus that gets into the air when contaminated urine or droppings are stirred up, by touching contaminated material and then their eyes, nose or mouth, or rarely from a bite. It reports no U.S. cases of person-to-person spread, and says dogs and cats can't transmit it.
In Plano, the field rodents that can carry it live along greenbelts, creeks and open land, and sometimes wander into garages and sheds near that land.
Something in the attic or the garage?
Want a local rodent technician to look at it? Same-day appointments are often available. (972) 325-9652
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease. A CDC fact sheet says it spreads through contact with water or soil contaminated by the urine or body fluids of infected animals, or direct exposure to that urine. Rodents are among the animals it lists, along with raccoons, opossums, dogs and livestock. Symptoms can appear anywhere from 2 days to 4 weeks after exposure and include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and jaundice.
The CDC's prevention advice includes avoiding contact with animal urine, especially with cuts on the skin, not swimming in or swallowing water that may contain animal urine, wearing protective clothing or footwear near possibly contaminated soil or water, and talking with your vet about vaccinating pets. After heavy rain in Plano's creek greenbelts, keep kids and dogs out of standing water.
Rat-bite fever
The CDC says rat-bite fever spreads through scratches or bites, through contact with a rodent's saliva or urine, through contaminated materials like bedding or cages, and by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Rats, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs and squirrels can carry it without looking sick. It doesn't spread person to person. The practical rule: don't handle rodents bare-handed, live or dead, and wash any bite or scratch and call a doctor.
Flea-borne typhus
Flea-borne, or murine, typhus is the one most tied to Texas. A 2017 Texas DSHS health alert said rat and cat fleas are the main vectors and that rats, opossums and cats are the main reservoirs in Texas. Infected flea feces can enter a bite or a scratch, or get rubbed into the eye. Cases were historically reported mostly in South Texas, along the Gulf Coast and in Central Texas, and the alert noted increased activity in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas in 2017. DSHS said more than 60 percent of reported cases were hospitalized.
Controlling rodents and keeping pets on flea prevention cuts the risk. Don't let rats, opossums or stray cats nest under the deck or in the garage. Close gaps under decks and sheds with hardware cloth, and don't leave pet food outside overnight.
Allergies and asthma
Disease isn't the only health concern. Texas A&M AgriLife's rodent training material notes that rodents may trigger asthma attacks. Droppings, urine and dander in a home can bother people with allergies or asthma, especially when a heavy infestation sits in an attic above the bedrooms or in the ductwork. If anyone in the house has breathing trouble, mention it when you call so the provider can plan cleanup carefully.
Cleaning up safely
The CDC's cleanup steps protect against all of these:
- Wear rubber or plastic gloves
- Spray droppings and urine with disinfectant or a bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) until very wet
- Let it soak for five minutes
- Wipe up with paper towels and throw them away
- Mop or sponge the area with disinfectant
- Wash gloved hands, remove the gloves, then wash hands with soap and warm water
- Don't sweep or vacuum droppings
- Air out sheds and closed outbuildings for 30 minutes before cleaning
When to bring in help
A few droppings in a drawer is a quick, safe cleanup. A whole attic full of droppings and soiled insulation is a job for people with respirators and the right equipment. That's attic cleanup, and it should come after trapping and sealing. The droppings article helps you tell what you're dealing with, and mouse control stops the source.
Something in the attic or the garage?
Ready to have the gaps found and closed? Call and describe what you're hearing or finding. (972) 325-9652
Common questions
Do house mice carry hantavirus?
The CDC's list of North American hantavirus carriers names the deer mouse, white-footed mouse, rice rat and cotton rat, not the house mouse. Clean all droppings carefully anyway.
Is flea-borne typhus found around Dallas?
A 2017 Texas DSHS alert noted increased typhus activity in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas.
Can my dog get sick from rodents?
Dogs can get leptospirosis, and the CDC suggests asking your vet about vaccination. Poisoned rodents are another risk for pets.
What should I do after a rat bite?
Wash the wound with soap and water and call a doctor. The CDC notes rat bites and scratches can spread rat-bite fever.
Should I see a doctor after cleaning up droppings?
If you get a fever, muscle aches or trouble breathing in the weeks after rodent exposure, tell your doctor about the exposure.