June 21, 2021

More on Mice

Welcome to part 6 of our series on mice.  Obviously, we have a lot to say about mice. Why is that?  Because mice are a year-long problem in Rochester, Henrietta, Fairport, Webster, Honeoye Falls, and nearby neighborhoods.  

The species of mice most common to Western New York are deer mice, white-footed mice (both from genus Peromyscus) and house mice (genus Mus).

Diseases and Parasites Spread by Mice

Mice do not only eat our and our animals’ food, damage our structures, and breed prolifically, they also spread diseases and parasites to humans and other animals.  Without professional pest control services for the Rochester area, you could be exposed to the following issues.  Check out what the CDC has to say on these and other maladies from rodents.  

 

  • Salmonella causes a sickness called salmonellosis.  Symptoms include gastric distress and fever. 
  • Hantavirus is responsible for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS.  This comes from exposure to urine and feces of infected mice, which can dry up and become airborne.  A significant number of hantavirus cases prove fatal.  
  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, or LCMV is disturbingly common in mice and other rodents.  Some infected humans will show little in the way of symptoms, but LCMV can mimic a strong flu.  Fever, headache, light sensitivity, joint pain, and lack of appetite have been reported.  
  • Leptospirosis is caused by Leptospira bacteria and has similar symptoms to the flu, plus jaundice and red eyes.  
  • Tularemia, also called rabbit fever or deer fly fever is a disease caused by the  Francisella tularensis bacteria and is most often found in dead animals.  It is not very common and symptoms include joint pain and loss of appetite.  
  • Plague.  Plague is a serious disease that comes with the Yersinia pestis pathogen. It is usually caused by the bite of a flea that has fed on an infected animal and brings diarrhea, malaise, and pain with it. 
  • Other pests and pathogens that are attracted to mice leftovers, feces, and blood.  These include fleas and ticks that can carry plague and other diseases.  

Pest Removal for Public Health

Don’t let yourself, your children, your friends, your clients, your pets, or your livestock suffer the negative impact of a mouse infestation.  Remember, if you see one mouse, or see evidence of mice, there is already a problem.  If you suspect mice, call us right away at (585) 486-4815 and use our contact page to write to us.  Give us a brief description of what you’re witnessing and we’ll schedule an inspection right away to put together a treatment plan that’s right for the particular pest, your space, and the users of that space.