There are many challenges that can arise associated with home ownership. One such challenge is mouse or rat infestation of a residence. When a typical person considers a rodent infestation, he or she is likely to cringe at the prospect. Typically, people find themselves repulsed at the idea of these rodents taking up residence in their homes. Many individuals do not fully appreciate the real dangers associated with a rodent infestation.
Risks to Physical Structure of a House Presented by Rodents
Rodents can presence a number of different types of risks to the physical structure of a residence. First, rodents are animals that by their very nature must gnaw. These animals have incisors that continue to grow throughout their lives. As a consequence, rodents must consistently gnaw on items of different types of things to trim their teeth.
When rodents infest a residence, they will end up gnawing on different elements of the physical structure itself, as well as various items within a home. This results in damage to specific elements of a house.
More significantly, rodents will gnaw on the protective coating around electrical wires. This process leaves the wires themselves exposed. As a result, sparks can be generated, sparks which can ignite a fire within a residence. Indeed, over 25% of residential fires have a cause that can be traced back to a rodent infestation.
Risks to Health of Occupants of a Residence Presented by Rodents
Rodents are what are known as vectors for disease. In other words, they can carry harmful bacteria and viruses and not become ill themselves. In addition to these animals carrying bacteria and viruses in their bodies, these dangerous pathogens can also be found in rodent droppings. Two examples of pathogens that can be found in rodent droppings include salmonella (bacteria) and hantavirus (virus).
The first major hantavirus outbreak in the United States occurred in the Four Corners area, including parts of Arizona including Scottsdale and Phoenix. Hantavirus can remain alive even in dried rodent droppings.
Dried rodent droppings can crumble very easily. When this happens, dust from droppings can become airborne. This dust can carry harmful germs like hantavirus, which can be inhaled by a human. When person inhales this dust contaminated with hantavirus, that individual has the potential for contracting hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. There exists no cure for this condition. Over 35% who develop hantavirus pulmonary die. There is no treatment for the condition and a person who does recover from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is said to have done so spontaneously.
