Do you have rats at home? Let's be aware of the serious diseases transmitted by rat bites (Rats and Diseases)

Have you ever noticed small black things a little bigger than a grain of rice in your kitchen, under a cupboard, or in a room where old things are kept? Do you sometimes hear something scratching on the roof or near the walls at night? These could be signs that an uninvited guest has come to your home, that is, a rat. Although you may think, "Oh, just a little rat," the damage that this little creature can do to our health is not small. So today, let's talk about these rats, the diseases that we can get from their droppings and urine, and how to protect ourselves from this trouble.

Who are these rats? What is the difference between rats and mice?

Simply put, rats are a clever and quickly adapting species of animals that live near our homes, both in cities and in the countryside. The biggest problem with them is that they reproduce very quickly. A single rat can have between 3 and 6 litters, with a total of about 8 litters per year. Imagine how quickly the rat population increases. Many people confuse rats and mice. The main way to distinguish between the two is by size. Mice are very small animals, but rats are much larger. Also, the ears of rats are small compared to their bodies, while the ears of mice are large. There are two main types of rats that are seen in our homes in Sri Lanka. Let's look at them.

What are the risks to our health from rats?

Rats are the second most contagious animal to humans, second only to mosquitoes. There are two ways in which these diseases can be transmitted to us: 1. Direct Contact :

• By being bitten or trapped by a rat.
• By consuming food or water contaminated with rat urine or feces.
• By touching contaminated surfaces or places where rats have been, and then touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with the same hands.
• Particles of dried rat feces and urine mix with dust and get into the air, and you breathe that air in. This is the most dangerous way.

2. Indirect Contact:

• Fleas and ticks on the bodies of infected rats are transmitted to humans by animals such as rats. This is how the Bubonic plague , which killed hundreds of thousands of people in history, spread.

Major diseases transmitted by rats

• Hantavirus: This is one of the most serious diseases that can be transmitted by inhaling rat droppings and urine. It causes a condition called `Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)`, which can severely damage the lungs . The mortality rate is even high.
• Early symptoms: High fever, body aches (especially in the back, hips, and shoulders), stomach aches , headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea .
• Later symptoms: After 4-10 days, severe symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, and fluid in the lungs may occur.

• Leptospirosis: A very common disease that we have heard of in Sri Lanka. The bacteria can enter the body through skin wounds or through the eyes, nose, and mouth by stepping into water contaminated with rat urine (especially in paddy fields, swamps, and dirty water streams). Symptoms include fever, body aches, and yellowing of the eyes (jaundice).

• Rat-bite Fever (RBF): This is a disease caused by the bacteria `Streptobacillus moniliformis`. It can be transmitted by being bitten by a rat or by coming into contact with its feces. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, and body aches, and can be life-threatening if left untreated.

How do you know if there are mice in the house?

Since rats often come out at night, you may not see them. But if you pay attention to these signs, you can find out if there are rats in your house.

• Bees: Look for black bees, slightly larger than a grain of rice, all over the house, under cupboards, and near food storage areas.
• Check: Under doors, baseboards, wires, cardboard boxes, etc., for signs of rodents.
• Noise: Do you hear scratching and running sounds coming from the walls and roof during quiet hours at night?
• Rat burrows: Look for small burrows in the ground in the garden, near garbage dumps, and under woodsheds.
• Bad smell: Places where rats live may have a slightly pungent, strange smell due to their urine.

How do you clean a bee hive? - This is very important!

We now know about the diseases that can be transmitted through rat droppings and urine, so we need to be extremely careful when cleaning these. Here are the steps to clean properly: 1. Protect yourself: First, put on a pair of rubber gloves. If possible, wear a mask. 2. Disinfect: Spray bleach or a household disinfectant onto the area where the pee and urine are until it is thoroughly wet. (If bleaching, mix 1.5 cups of bleach with about 4 liters of water.) 3. Wait 5 minutes: Spray and let the disinfectant work for about 5 minutes. This will kill viruses and bacteria. 4. Wipe: Now use paper towels to wipe away the wet pee and waste. 5. Remove: Place the paper towels in a tightly sealed trash can, or place them in a separate container and dispose of them immediately. 6. Re-clean: Wipe the area again with disinfectant. 7. Wash your hands: Before removing gloves, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Then remove the gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water again.

How to protect your home from mice and get rid of them?

• To fill the hole at home:Seal all holes larger than an inch, in walls, near doors, and near windows, with cement or other suitable material.
• Eliminate food and water: Do not leave food uncovered. Store items like rice and flour in tightly sealed containers. Do not leave leftover food in the kitchen, even overnight. Remove leftovers after feeding pets.
• Keep the environment clean: If there are any unnecessary bushes, piles of wood, or piles of old things around the house, remove them. Always keep garbage cans with lids closed.
• Set up mouse traps: Watch where mice come and go and place traps along walls.
• Using Rat Poison: Use this as a last resort . Rat poison is extremely toxic to humans, especially small children, and pets. So if you use it, keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

• Help from a pest control company: If the rat problem is difficult to control, it is best to seek help from a pest control company.

Rats, Rat Fever, Rat Fever, Hantavirus, Leptospirosis, Rat-borne Diseases, Health Safety