Spring Clean and Get Mice Out!

Worldwide, rats and mice are the cause of over 35 diseases! Rodents may carry a virus called LCMV that can cause severe birth defects or loss of a pregnancy (miscarriage). Women who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant should avoid contact with all rodents.

(Photo courtesy of Orkin, Inc.)

Some of the rodent-borne diseases found in the United States include:

• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

• Rat-bite fever

• Leptospirosis

• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis

• Plague

Mice and rats are pesky critters that can enter your home through small holes or gaps. Mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a nickel, and rats can squeeze through a hole the size of a half dollar!

If you find signs of rodents or their droppings while you are spring cleaning, take precautions to clean up the area safely.

• Seal up holes or gaps in your home to prevent rodents from returning.

• Trap rodents in and around your home using an appropriate snap trap.

• Clean up any sources of food or water, and items that might provide shelter for rodents.

Remember—seal up, trap up, and clean up!

Additional Information

• Prevent Rodent Infestations
• Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) and Pregnancy: Facts and Prevention