As fall and winter approach, critters will be looking for food and warmth, and they may end up in our homes. This might not be so bad, if it was a peaceful coexistence, but mice and rats like to chew holes in your cereal boxes, leave their feces on the floor, and raise their little furry families under your bed.
So maybe you are an animal lover, and willing to clean up after your new companions. The other drawback of these uninvited guests is the range of infectious diseases they can carry:
- Rat-bite fever
- And others
Hantavirus is an infection you may have heard about this summer, when 9 cases were discovered among campers at Yosemite National Park in California. 3 of those persons died. Exposure occurs from exposure to droppings, urine or saliva. The illness starts with fever and muscle aches, but can develop into a severe pneumonia.
Of course, if you do not own the place you are living, you need to consult with the owners about the ways to keep rodents out.
Ok, once you are rodent-proof, it is time to clean up their mess. Cleaning up droppings, urine, and dead rodents requires some special handling:
- Ventilate the area for at least 30 minutes before you start
- Use a disinfectant or bleach solution
- Spray the area involved thoroughly
- Wipe up with paper towels
- Wear disposable gloves
- Place waste in sealed plastic bags and remove to an outdoors garbage can or dumpster
More tips are available at Cleaning Up After Rodents (CDC Website)
Roger Miller, MD (OSU Student Health Services)