Do Rats Really Spread Disease?
WouterIf you have a weakened immune system, you need to take special precautions in order to protect yourself from rat-borne illnesses. Rats can carry several viruses and bacteria and these can be transmitted to humans through their saliva, urine, and feces. The CDC has compiled a list of diseases that can be spread by rats. Some of the diseases that rats can spread to humans include leptospirosis, plague, rat-bite fever, salmonellosis, and tularemia.
Most people who come into contact with infected rats experience a mild illness and are able to recover on their own. However, some people experience fever, chills, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms of the disease may last up to four months. The first phase of the illness starts with fever, chills, and a headache. Later, the symptoms may include muscle pain, abdominal pain, and general malaise.
Leptospirosis is a bacteria that infects people and many other animals. It occurs worldwide, but is most common in temperate and tropical regions. People may experience only a mild or no-symptomatic disease, while others can develop severe symptoms and may end up dying. The bacteria are carried by rats and spread from person to person through their urine. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can result in liver and kidney failure.
Rats are also known to carry plague. Although the plague was nearly eradicated in the nineteenth century, it is still present in certain areas. The disease can also be spread indirectly by humans who are bitten by rodent-feeding insects. In addition to spreading the disease by direct contact, rats can also spread plague through infected soil.
