How are mice and rats dangerous to humans?

How are mice and rats dangerous to humans? - briefly

Mice and rats carry pathogens such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, salmonella, and plague, which spread through droppings, urine, saliva, and bites. Their gnawing contaminates food and damages structures, creating additional routes for human infection.

How are mice and rats dangerous to humans? - in detail

Rodents present several direct threats to human health and safety. Their impact can be grouped into infectious, environmental, structural, and psychological categories.

• Infectious hazards

  • Pathogens carried in saliva, urine, or feces include hantavirus, which can cause severe respiratory illness; Leptospira bacteria, leading to leptospirosis with kidney and liver complications; Salmonella species, responsible for gastrointestinal infections; Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), producing meningitis; and Yersinia pestis, the agent of plague.
  • Contamination of food stores occurs when rodents gnaw packaging or leave droppings on consumables, creating a route for bacterial and viral ingestion.
  • Aerosolization of dried rodent excreta can transmit hantavirus and other agents when disturbed during cleaning or renovation.

• Environmental risks

  • Urine and feces release ammonia and allergens that irritate respiratory passages, aggravating asthma and triggering allergic reactions.
  • Parasites such as fleas, mites, and ticks hitch rides on rodents, spreading additional diseases like murine typhus and tick‑borne encephalitis to humans.

• Structural damage

  • Constant gnawing of electrical wiring, insulation, and plumbing leads to short circuits, fire hazards, and water leaks.
  • Burrowing undermines building foundations, compromising structural integrity and increasing the likelihood of collapse or water intrusion.

• Psychological effects

  • Presence of rodents in homes or workplaces can cause anxiety, insomnia, and heightened stress, especially in individuals with phobias or post‑traumatic stress disorder.

Mitigation requires integrated pest management: sealing entry points, maintaining sanitation, using traps or bait stations, and conducting regular inspections to detect early signs of infestation. Prompt removal of contaminated food and thorough disinfection of affected areas reduce the probability of disease transmission.