What is the disease transmitted from rats and mice called? - briefly
The illness is a hantavirus infection, most commonly manifested as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).
What is the disease transmitted from rats and mice called? - in detail
Rodent‑borne illnesses constitute a diverse group of infections, the most medically significant of which is hantavirus disease. Hantaviruses are RNA viruses carried primarily by wild mice, rats and voles. Human exposure occurs through inhalation of aerosolized urine, feces or saliva, leading to two clinical syndromes:
- Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), characterised by rapid onset of fever, muscle aches, cough and severe respiratory distress; mortality rates range from 30 % to 40 %.
- Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), prevalent in Eurasia, presenting with fever, hemorrhage, renal failure and, in severe cases, shock.
Diagnosis relies on serologic testing for IgM antibodies or PCR detection of viral RNA. Management is supportive; early intensive‑care intervention improves outcomes, while no approved antiviral therapy exists.
Other rodent‑related infections warrant attention:
- Leptospirosis, caused by Leptospira interrogans, spreads via contact with contaminated water or soil. Symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle pain and jaundice; severe cases may progress to Weil’s disease with renal and hepatic failure. Antibiotic therapy with doxycycline or penicillin is effective if administered promptly.
- Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is transmitted by fleas that have fed on infected rats. It manifests as bubonic, septicemic or pneumonic forms. Prompt administration of streptomycin or gentamicin is critical to prevent mortality.
- Rat‑bite fever, a streptobacillary infection following a rodent bite or scratch, presents with fever, rash and arthralgia. Penicillin remains the treatment of choice.
Prevention strategies focus on rodent control, proper food storage, sanitation, and protective equipment when handling rodents or cleaning contaminated areas. Vaccines are available for leptospirosis in certain regions, while no human vaccine exists for hantavirus or plague.