{"id":7645,"date":"2025-08-08T13:58:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T13:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/2025\/08\/08\/publishwhat-diseases-do-rats-carry000openopen\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T13:55:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:55:17","slug":"what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/","title":{"rendered":"What Diseases do Rats Carry &#038; How to Prevent Them"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"30\" data-end=\"265\">Rats can spread serious diseases to humans and pets through their droppings, urine, bites, or by contaminating food and surfaces. Preventing these diseases involves both controlling rat populations and reducing your exposure to them.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Do_Rats_Carry_Diseases\" >Do Rats Carry Diseases?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#What_Diseases_Do_Rats_Carry\" >What Diseases Do Rats Carry<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Salmonellosis\" >Salmonellosis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Bubonic_Plague\" >Bubonic Plague<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Tularemia\" >Tularemia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Hantavirus\" >Hantavirus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Rat-Bite_Fever\" >Rat-Bite Fever<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Prevention_of_The_Rat_Disease\" >Prevention of The Rat Disease<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Keep_Things_Clean\" >Keep Things Clean<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Block_Their_Entry\" >Block Their Entry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Tidy_the_Outdoors\" >Tidy the Outdoors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Control_and_Remove_Rats_Safely\" >Control and Remove Rats Safely<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Protect_Yourself_During_Cleanup\" >Protect Yourself During Cleanup<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Spread_Awareness_at_Home\" >Spread Awareness at Home<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/blog\/what-diseases-do-rats-carry-how-to-prevent-them\/#Wondering_%E2%80%9CIs_there_a_rodent_control_near_me%E2%80%9D\" >Wondering \u201cIs there a rodent control near me?\u201d<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Rats_Carry_Diseases\"><\/span>Do Rats Carry Diseases?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"flex-1 overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"h-full\">\n<div class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-rbufs-79elbk h-full\">\n<div class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-rbufs-1n7m0yu\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col text-sm md:pb-9\">\n<div class=\"w-full text-token-text-primary\" dir=\"auto\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-23\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\">\n<div class=\"text-base py-[18px] px-3 md:px-4 m-auto md:px-5 lg:px-1 xl:px-5\">\n<div class=\"mx-auto flex flex-1 gap-4 text-base md:gap-5 lg:gap-6 md:max-w-3xl\">\n<div class=\"group\/conversation-turn relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-grow flex-col max-w-full\">\n<div class=\"min-h-[20px] text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5 overflow-x-auto\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"e03c968c-9339-4f5b-a947-0f86e30c4389\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\">\n<p>Yes, rats can carry and spread several serious diseases to humans, both directly and indirectly. Rats are notorious carriers of various diseases such as hantavirus, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/boston\/comments\/1lgw940\/rats_in_boston_may_be_spreading_potentially\/\">leptospirosis<\/a>, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), tularemia, and salmonella. Beyond health risks, these wild rodents can inflict significant property damage by gnawing through electrical wiring in homes, car engines, and other crucial areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Diseases_Do_Rats_Carry\"><\/span>What Diseases Do Rats Carry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Let\u2019s have a look at the underlying threats rodents pose:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-item\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"list-item\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Salmonellosis\"><\/span>Salmonellosis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>It is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella bacteria. The bacteria can be found in the feces of the rodents. When food or water contaminated with rodent feces is consumed, Salmonellosis sets in. Some of the symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps. The infection spreads from your intestines all the way through to the lymphatic system. If you want to keep your family safe, you need to prevent rodent infestation. For that, you may need to contact a pest control professional or a rodent exterminator.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bubonic_Plague\"><\/span>Bubonic Plague<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>You may have heard of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/askscience\/comments\/5lmlkl\/comment\/dbyfboe\/\">Black Death<\/a>. It was the greatest catastrophe ever. Apparently, the Black Death was the Bubonic plague caused by Yersinia Pestis, a bacteria that resides in rat fleas. The disease was supposedly transmitted from rodents to humans through infected flea bites. The symptoms include fever, vomiting, and headaches. There may be swollen or painful lymph nodes in the area closest to where the bacteria entered the human system.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tularemia\"><\/span>Tularemia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>Another name for Tularemia is Rabbit Fever or Deer Fly Fever. It is caused by the bacterium Frencisella tularensis, which infects rodents. The disease is then passed to humans through skin contact or by inhaling the bacteria. The symptoms include skin ulcers, fever, chills, fatigue, and severe headaches.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hantavirus\"><\/span>Hantavirus<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>Rodents are the main virus reservoir and a source of human infection. Hantavirus is transmitted from rodents to humans through inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta. You can get exposed to Hantavirus while cleaning rodent dead bodies, rodent droppings, nests, and urine. The symptoms include cough, fever, headache, lethargy, and muscle pain.<\/li>\n<li>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rat-Bite_Fever\"><\/span>Rat-Bite Fever<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>An infected rat\u2019s bite or a scratch can cause rat-bite fever. Rat bites transfer Spirillum minus or Streptobacillus bacteria into humans and create serious complications that include heart, brain and lung infections. The symptoms include high fevers with chills, headaches, and joint pains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prevention_of_The_Rat_Disease\"><\/span>Prevention of The Rat Disease<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep_Things_Clean\"><\/span>Keep Things Clean<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Throw out garbage regularly in bins with tight lids.<\/li>\n<li>Wipe up food spills and crumbs right away.<\/li>\n<li>Store dry foods like rice, flour, and snacks in sealed containers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Block_Their_Entry\"><\/span>Block Their Entry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Seal holes, cracks, and gaps in walls, floors, and around pipes.<\/li>\n<li>Install door sweeps to block gaps underneath doors.<\/li>\n<li>Cover vents and pipe openings with fine wire mesh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tidy_the_Outdoors\"><\/span>Tidy the Outdoors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Trim grass, bushes, and plants regularly.<\/li>\n<li>Remove piles of wood, leaves, or debris where rats can hide.<\/li>\n<li>Bring pet food and water indoors at night.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Control_and_Remove_Rats_Safely\"><\/span>Control and Remove Rats Safely<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Use traps in areas where rats are active.<\/li>\n<li>Place enclosed bait stations away from children and pets.<\/li>\n<li>Call a professional pest control service for heavy infestations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protect_Yourself_During_Cleanup\"><\/span>Protect Yourself During Cleanup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Wear gloves when handling droppings, nests, or traps.<\/li>\n<li>Disinfect surfaces with a bleach solution.<\/li>\n<li>Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after cleanup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spread_Awareness_at_Home\"><\/span>Spread Awareness at Home<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>Let family members know rats can carry diseases like leptospirosis, hantavirus, and salmonella.<\/li>\n<li>Keep this checklist visible so everyone follows the same prevention steps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wondering_%E2%80%9CIs_there_a_rodent_control_near_me%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Wondering \u201cIs there a rodent control near me?\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>If you <a href=\"https:\/\/takecaretermite.com\/blog\/how-do-mice-get-in-the-house\/\">spot a rodent in your home<\/a>, there may be a possibility that many of them have sneaked in to make your house their home. The best is to get rid of them. A professional can do the job effectively.<\/p>\n<p>Take Care Termite in Tracy, California is known for effective residential and <a href=\"https:\/\/takecaretermite.com\/commercial-pest-control-services\/\">commercial pest control<\/a> services. If you want to protect your home or office against pests, termites, birds, and rodents, then contact us now!<\/p>\n<p><!-- FAQ Schema --><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"Do rats carry diseases?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Yes, rats do carry diseases. They not only cause damage to property but also are responsible for carrying and spreading various diseases.\"\n    }\n  },{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What diseases do rats carry?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"\u2022 Salmonellosis: When food or water contaminated with rodent\u2019s feces is consumed, Salmonellosis sets in.\n\u2022 Bubonic Plague: Black Death was the Bubonic plague caused by Yersinia Pestis, a bacteria that resides in rat fleas.\n\u2022 Tularemia: It is caused by the bacterium Frencisella tularensis, which infects rodents. The disease is then passed to humans through skin contact or by inhaling the bacteria.\n\u2022Hantavirus: Hantavirus is transmitted from rodents to humans through inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta. You can get exposed to Hantavirus while cleaning rodent dead bodies, rodent droppings, nests, and urine.\n\u2022 Rat-Bite Fever: Rat bites transfer Spirillum minus or Streptobacillus bacteria into humans and create serious complications that include heart, brain and lung infection.\"\n    }\n  }]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rats can spread serious diseases to humans and pets through their droppings, urine, bites, or by contaminating food and surfaces. Preventing these diseases involves both controlling rat populations and reducing your exposure to them.<br \/>\nDo Rats Carry Diseases?<\/p>\n<p>\nYes, rats can &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7645"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12656,"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7645\/revisions\/12656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnsfly.com\/takecaretermite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}