Recently here at Mastertech Environmental of South Jersey, we’ve received multiple calls regarding rodent droppings cleanup services. Many South Jersey residents may be under the impression that this is an inconvenient but albeit harmless issue. The truth is that rodent droppings infestations can cause a plethora of health and safety risks to South Jersey property owners, in addition to the property damage itself. Let’s take a closer look at some of the health risks associated with rodent droppings in a South Jersey property.
Health & Safety Risks of Rodent Droppings
When it comes to cleaning up mouse or rat droppings at your house or company, you may say to yourself, “Grab a broom.” If this is your mentality, you must immediately alter it. More than sweeping mouse and rat excrement and urine away is required for a safe and comprehensive cleanup of rodent droppings.
The germs, bacteria, and viruses found in rodent droppings can cause serious and even deadly illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States lists the following germs and viruses that can be transmitted by contact with rat droppings:
- Hantavirus: Hantavirus was discovered in the United States for the first time in 1993. Rodent droppings, including dust from dried feces and urine, can transmit the infection. More than 30% of people who become infected with the hantavirus will die. These poor individuals succumb to a disease known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The lungs’ capillaries bleed as a result of hantavirus pulmonary illness. A person’s lungs fill with blood as a result of this. The condition does not have a vaccine or a particular therapy. Rather, a person with the condition is admitted to the ICU and placed on artificial ventilation using a breathing tube in order to reduce the severity of the symptoms. In roughly 60% of instances, the patient recovers spontaneously from the condition.
- Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis can cause a number of symptoms that are similar to those of other infections, such as the flu. A person may be asymptomatic following infection in some situations. The prognosis for a full recovery is good with medical therapy. Serious problems can develop in a small percentage of cases when no treatment is provided, including:
- Damage to the kidneys
- Meningitis
- Failure of the liver
- Distress in the lungs
- Salmonella: Salmonella, more widely known as “food poisoning,” occurs when the bacteria contaminates a food item that is ingested. This bacteria can be found in rodent droppings and urine. When a person is infected with salmonella, they fall sick in the great majority of instances. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are examples of symptoms. Salmonella is a bacteria that is seldom deadly and may be treated with or without medical help.
Once rodent droppings have dried out, they can become hazardous. Certain viruses and bacteria may survive in rodent droppings for a long time, even after the feces of mice and rats have dried. Once dry, rodent droppings easily disintegrate. When it comes to rat droppings, this is especially true. Dust is generated when rodent droppings dry out and crumble, and some of it gets into the air. If a virus or bacteria is present in the droppings, it can spread through the air.
Animal Waste Poses Health and Safety Risks
If your South Jersey home has been polluted by rodent droppings, urine, or other body fluids, it’s critical to hire a bio-remediation specialist to help with cleanup and decontamination. Droppings from various animals can cause a wide range of issues. Animal feces and urine can carry parasites, viruses, and germs that are harmful to humans. People can become ill as a result of exposure, and illness can spread. New Jersey residents should call a professional biohazard cleaning firm to execute safe and effective cleanup and disposal procedures to keep you and your family safe and avoid health and safety hazards.
Animal feces, urine, and other body fluids left behind by an animal infestation in your New Jersey home are cleaned safely and effectively by Mastertech Environmental’s bioremediation specialists. Our biohazard cleanup crew has the tools, cleaning chemicals, and personal protective equipment needed to thoroughly clean your home and return it to a safe condition for you and your family.
