REPORTINGMice
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Cute
Disease
Carriers |
Should I worry if I find mice in my house?
Mice can carry several diseases which they can transmit to people. They can also carry ticks and other insects that transmit other diseases to people. You should take basic precautions to reduce your exposure to mice and other rodents.
How do I prevent mice in and around my house?
Keep your house clean and in good repair. Keep all food, including pet food, in sealed containers. Remove garbage frequently and keep it in sealed containers. Seal cracks and small openings to the house. Mice can squeeze through a 1/4-inch hole. Don't leave food out overnight. Place wood piles and other storage areas away from the house. Keep grass around the house short. If mice are still present, use mouse traps or rodenticides following the manufacturer's recommendations.
What do I do if I find evidence of mice in my house?
If you find rodent nests, air out the area for at least 30 minutes by opening windows and doors. Wear Latex or rubber gloves and a dust mask when cleaning. A certified HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) mask is best. Mix a solution of 1 cup bleach to 10 cups of water or use a commercial household disinfectant. Thoroughly spray or soak any dead mice, droppings or nesting areas with the disinfectant. Wipe down the area with the bleach solution or the disinfectant. Mop floors once or twice with the solution. Spray dirt floors down with the solution. Commercial steam clean or shampoo carpets. Wash bedding and clothing in hot water and dry on the hot setting. Do not vacuum, sweep or dust up the rodent droppings. Avoid stirring the particles into the air where you can breathe them into your lungs.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a virus found in rodent urine, saliva and excrement. It is very rare but has been found in our area of northern Idaho. Hantavirus infects the lungs. It can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). The first symptoms begin about two weeks after exposure to mice and can include:
- high fever
- body aches
- chills
- trouble breathing
- abdominal pain
- lower back pain
A couple of days after these symptoms start, severe respiratory distress begins and lungs begin to shut down. HPS is very serious, but luckily it is hard to catch and not all people who get Hantavirus develop the symptoms. With advanced medical care, most people survive infections.
People get exposed to Hantavirus by breathing it in when the rodent urine, saliva and excrement are stirred into the air. Care should be taken when cleaning up rodent nests and areas where rodents have been living. If you develop these symptoms and have recently been around mice and mice droppings, consult your doctor for proper medical follow-up.
Is plague still a concern in this day and age?
Plague is caused by bacteria that fleas living on mice or other rodents spread to people when they bite. The mice or rodents are infected with the bacteria. The flea bites the rodent and then the flea bites a person. People can also get infected by having direct contact with an infected rodent.
Initial symptoms of plague include:
- fever
- chills
- muscle pain
- nausea
- headaches
- sore throat
- sweating
Later symptoms includes the swelling of lymph nodes near the bite and shock as the bacteria spread to the entire body. Every part of the body can become infected, including the lungs. Care should be taken to avoid exposure to mice, fleas and other rodents. Luckily, there is treatment now for plague and deaths are rare if the infection is caught early. Idaho has had several cases of plague, but it is extremely rare in the five northern counties.
Can mice give me rabies?
Wild rodents, skunks and raccoons can spread the rabies virus. People should keep their distance from all wildlife. If a wild rodent bites a person, the person should try to capture it for rabies testing. If that's not possible, the person needs medical attention as soon as possible. The only animals in northern Idaho to date which have tested positive for rabies are bats.