What diseases can you get from rats?

Author: Sabrina Purdy  |  Last update: Saturday, January 10, 2026

There are disease concerns with both wild (rats, mice) and pet (rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs) rodents and rabbits. They can carry many diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia and Salmonella.

What diseases can rats transmit to humans?

Contamination of stored foods with rodent feces and urine may transmit disease to both humans and pets. These contaminated foods may carry diseases such as cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and listeriosis.

What are the first signs of hantavirus?

In most recorded cases, symptoms develop 1 to 8 weeks after exposure. Early symptoms, such as fever, dry cough, body aches, headaches, diarrhea and abdominal pain, are similar to many other viral illnesses. This may prevent an HPS diagnosis before the illness progresses.

Can you get sick from rodents in your house?

Diseases are mainly spread to people from rodents when they breathe in contaminated air. Don't vacuum or sweep rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials. This can cause tiny droplets containing viruses to get into the air. If you already vacuumed, follow the cleanup guidance on this page.

What is the most common disease in rats?

Besides respiratory diseases, tumours are the most common diseases in pet rats and rats in general. Their severity varies from benign lipomas to malignant tumours. It is essential to consult a veterinarian as soon as one appears, as tumours must be removed as quickly as possible to prevent the cancer from spreading.

Rodent Infestations and Health Issues - Health Checks

Is breathing rat urine harmful?

Hantaviruses can cause serious illness that affects your lungs and kidneys. Hantaviruses are spread from rodents to people. When fresh urine, droppings, or nesting materials of an infected rodent are stirred up, the virus can get into the air. You can become infected with the virus by breathing in the contaminated air.

Can rat mites survive on humans?

The minor silver lining is that they don't burrow or survive on our bodies once they've finished feeding. They definitely prefer rat nests and rat's blood, but their bites are annoyingly itchy and can be mistaken for bed bug bites.

How likely is it to get sick from rats?

Anyone can get RBF if they have contact with rodents infected with the bacteria that cause RBF. Certain groups of people are more at risk for this serious and sometimes deadly disease. The rodents that carry RBF include rats, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs, and squirrels.

Can rats in walls make you sick?

Anyone who comes into contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, saliva, nesting materials, or particles from these, can get hantavirus disease. Exposure to poorly ventilated areas with active rodent infestations in households, is the strongest risk factor for infection.

What are the symptoms of Lcmv?

Symptoms of LCMV infection are similar to those for influenza and include fever, stiff neck, a lack of appetite, muscle aches, headache, nausea and vomiting and occur 1–2 weeks after exposure to an infected rodent. The symptoms may be much more severe in pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system.

Can you survive hantavirus?

Hantavirus has been fatal in more than one-third of the nearly 600 cases reported since it was first recognized in 1993 in the Four Corners region of New Mexico. Hantavirus infections have been reported across the United States but occur most often in western states.

What are the signs of leptospirosis?

In people, leptospirosis can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:
  • Fever.
  • Headache.
  • Chills.
  • Body or muscle aches.
  • Vomiting or nausea.
  • Yellowed skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • Red eyes.
  • Stomach pain.

What are the symptoms of the norovirus?

What are the symptoms? Common symptoms of norovirus infection include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Less common symptoms can include low-grade fever or chills, headache, and muscle aches. Symptoms usually begin 1 or 2 days after ingesting the virus, but may appear as early as 12 hours after exposure.

Can you get sick from owning rats?

All rodents, pet and wild, can carry bacteria and viruses that cause infections in people. Rodent infections that can transmit to humans include leptospirosis, hantavirus, rat-bite fever and a type of meningitis caused by a virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus ( LCMV ).

How to get rid of rats in house fast?

The best way to get rid of rats or mice is by using traps. If using spring loaded traps for rats, bait three of them in a row without setting them. Bait with dried fruit, peanut butter mixed with oats, or cheese.

What is the death rate of hantavirus?

Rodents harbor the virus, which is shed in their urine, droppings, or saliva. Humans can contract the disease if they breathe in the virus, or if they are bitten by an infected rodent. HPS has a mortality rate of 38%.

What are the odds of getting hantavirus?

The overall probability of acquiring HPS when working with rodents appears to be 1 in 1,412 (0.00071).

What are rats doing when you hear scratching?

There are a number of reasons why rats may be making scratching noises. They could be trying to get from one area of the house to another, they could be trying to access food or they may be gathering nesting materials. Rats tend to move pretty quickly so you're likely to hear scurrying noises.

How do exterminators get rid of rats in walls?

Fumigation involves using aerosol chemicals in walls, rooms, attics, and crawl spaces to reach different nesting locations. If you need rat extermination services, know that the time periods and costs associated with these services vary. Factors affecting time and costs depend on location and materials used.

What are the symptoms of rat sickness?

These all lead to similar signs, such as sneezing, sniffling, labored breathing, rough hair coat, inactivity, weight loss, lack of appetite, and discharge from the eyes or nose. If you notice any of these signs, you should take your rat to the veterinarian.

Why do rats bite humans in their sleep?

Although they do not interact well with humans, wild rats have been known to bite when they feel threatened or are fed by hand. In addition, when searching for sustenance, these nocturnal animals may bite sleeping individuals.

Is it expensive to get rid of rats?

Hiring a rat exterminator costs around $300 on average but can easily exceed $1,000 depending on the severity of the issue, based on our market research. Rats cause property damage, contaminate food with droppings and urine, and carry diseases or other pests that can impact you and your family's health.

What kills rat mites instantly?

Premo Guard Mite Treatment Spray – 16 oz – Kills Dust, Human, Scabies, Spider, Carpet, Bird, Mouse & Rat Mites in Home, on Furniture, Bedding – Natural Non-Toxic 100% Affective – Child & Pet Safe.

Why do I feel like I am being bitten by invisible bugs?

Occasionally a person will feel itching or pin prick sensations and become overly worried that some invisible insect or mite is biting them, when none can be found. This could be the condition known as Ekbom syndrome, delusory parasitosis, or DP for short.

What are the symptoms of rat mites in humans?

The tropical rat mite's bite is painful and causes skin irritation and itching. Mites that normally infest birds also bite people.

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