No matter what kind of business you run, you could face an infestation of rodents, such as rats or mice. If you do experience a rodent infestation, not only could it affect your professional reputation, but it could also put the health of you, your employees, and your customers at risk. Commercial pest control services in Niagara can help you put a stop to the menace before it becomes a serious problem and protect everyone on your premises from health risks such as the following. 

1. Diseases

Mice and rats are known to be common disease vectors, meaning that humans can contract illnesses from them directly or indirectly. For example, if you or one of your employees comes in contact with a rat or mouse, it could spread disease by biting you. 

The risk of rabies infection from a mouse or a rat is very small. It is rare for rodents to be infected with rabies, and they are not known to spread it to humans. Nevertheless, because rabies is almost always fatal, it may be necessary to vaccinate anyone who has received a bite from a rodent against it as a precaution. Rats and mice can also spread other diseases to humans by biting them. Rat-bite fever is a bacterial infection that can spread from bites or scratches from infected rodents. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis is a virus that can spread from direct or indirect contact. Rats and mice would prefer to avoid humans if possible but may bite or scratch in self-defense if a person attempts to handle them. 

It is not only bites or scratches that you have to worry about. Rodents also spread diseases through their urine and feces. One of the most serious of these is hantavirus. Droppings and urine contain the virus. If disturbed, particles containing the virus can become airborne. Humans can become infected by breathing in the particles, which is why it is important to take precautions when cleaning up the excrement. There is no cure or vaccine for hantavirus. Approximately 36% of cases result in fatalities, and most cases are severe enough to require hospitalization. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can spread through rodent droppings, usually when food or water is contaminated with it. 

2. Parasites

Not only can rats and mice be disease vectors in their own right, but they can also carry parasites, such as fleas and mites. Mites are tiny creatures that look like insects except that they have eight legs instead of six. They burrow under the skin and cause a condition called mange that is marked by irritation, rash, and itching. 

Flea bites are also painful and itchy, but they can spread even worse diseases. If you have ever heard of the plague, this is a bacterial infection that raged through Europe in the Middle Ages and caused the deaths of millions of people. Thanks to antibiotics, plague is neither as common nor as deadly as it used to be, but it is still a threat. Other diseases spread by fleas include tularemia and murine typhus, which is rare but potentially serious. 

3. Product Contamination

If you have your product in storage on your premises, rats and mice could run all over it before it makes it to your shelves. As they go, they can leave behind urine, feces, saliva, and fur. Not only could the contaminated products make customers sick, but they could also affect the employees responsible for handling them and putting them on the shelves. 

Protect Yourself and Your Reputation with Commercial Pest Control Services in Niagara

As a business owner, you have a responsibility to maintain the safety of your products and your premises. Find out how commercial services from Truly Nolen can help.