Rodent Activity is Rising and so is the Risk of Hantavirus. Are You Prepared?
Have you been watching the news lately? If so, you’ve probably been hearing all about the recent hantavirus outbreak. Several passengers from a cruise ship off the coast of West Africa have caught this virus and are currently being treated for it. Health officials around the country have been closely monitoring this disease.
Here’s the good news. Experts are saying that the risk for the general public to catch this virus is very low, but it’s still important to educate yourself on this matter. Because rodents and diseases are still capable of sneaking up on people.
At U.S. Pest, we believe that awareness and prevention are necessary when it comes to protecting your home, family members, and even your furry friends. With rodent activity on the rise in Tennessee, there’s not a more perfect time than right now to start educating yourself on what the hantavirus is, how it spreads, and how you can keep yourself safe.
What is the Andes Hantavirus?
By the sound of it, you know it’s something serious. The Andes Hantavirus is a rare but critical disease that’s carried primarily through rodents. When a human comes into contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, they can easily catch the disease. In many cases, people can be exposed to this virus when contaminated particles are inhaled while cleaning or walking through a rodent-infested area.
Multiple strands of hantavirus exist all around the world. More specifically, the United States should be more concerned about Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). This is a pretty severe respiratory illness that can result to be life-threatening if it doesn’t get treated in time. According to several health experts, hantavirus cases are incredibly rare, but they can be extremely dangerous by how fast they spread.
If you think you’ve come into contact with this disease, we urge you to seek medical advice immediately. Some symptoms for this condition might include fever and chills, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Now, you’re probably thinking these symptoms sound familiar. And that’s because this disease is very similar to the flu, but can impact your respiratory system a lot harder without the proper care.
Throughout the progression of the illness, breathing can become difficult as fluid builds up in the lungs. This is your sign to not wait to get checked out, even if it ends up just being the flu.
Why Are So Many People Talking About This Right Now?
The rapid spread for this disease all began on a cruise ship traveling through South Africa. Several passengers suddenly came down with a serious illness, and multiple deaths occurred. Health experts recently identified the condition as the Andes strain of hantavirus, which requires extra medical attention and a 42 day quarantine, which averages up to six weeks. This is because it’s known as one of the few strains that allows limited in-person socialization.
Even though the overall public risk remains low, that doesn’t stop the outbreak from potentially spreading over time. So, we advise all of you to sit down and learn more about this rodent-borne illness and why rodent prevention is so important.
Most people don’t often realize how dangerous rodents actually are. Because a lot of people think they just cause damage to your property or create a larger mess around your home. But they’re also capable of spreading some of the worst diseases out there.
Why is Rodent Activity Increasing This Time of Year?
We’ve heard it all before, especially with insects. It’s the same for rodents. As temperatures rise, it triggers rodents to quickly expand their population. The spring and summer are the perfect seasons to start their breeding cycles. So, don’t wait to add our rodent control services to your calendar.
In Middle Tennessee, you’ll most likely see House mice, Norway rats, and Roof rats running around your home. These rodents are just trying to find food, water, and shelter to survive and build their colonies.
Here’s the craziest part. Even the smallest gap around your home can become an entry point. Once they get inside, they will contaminate your food, leave behind droppings, damage insulation and wiring, and anything else you dread happening. Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t realize they have a rodent issue until the infestation has already expanded. But don’t let this nightmare keep you up at night. Our team is well-trained in knowing where rodents hide, what they’re looking for, and how to move them out of your house.
Rodents are Experts at Hiding
Have you ever played hide-and-seek and it took the person forever to find you? Rodents are extremely good at this. Some of the most common areas you can find rodent activity are in attics, crawlspaces, garages, basements, piles of wood, wall voids, etc. The next time you hear scratching noises in your walls at 2 a.m., it could be a sign that you have rodents sneaking inside your home looking for their survival supplies.
How Hantavirus Exposure Even Occurs
One of the biggest misconceptions about hantavirus is that people are only exposed to it through direct contact. But it’s really exposed during clean-up of rodent infected areas.
Prevention always starts with reducing rodent activity before it becomes a serious threat. Let U.S. Pest put a stop to a future infestation before it’s too late.
Why Professional Help Matters
At the end of the day, professional treatments are the way to go. DIY treatments can definitely take care of maybe one or two rodents, but they rarely stop the problem permanently.
Rodent infestations often involve hidden nesting sites, multiple access points around the home, and on-going breeding cycles. Without a proper detailed inspection and treatment, rodents will keep coming back. That’s why we’ve designed our service to identify how rodents are traveling inside and figure out how to stop the problem at the source.
Don’t Wait Until Rodents Are All Moved In to Take Action
We strongly urge you to take the recent Andes Hantavirus news as a reminder that rodents are more than an annoying pest problem. While the average homeowner’s risk remains low, rodent prevention should always be taken seriously.
The best defense is early action. So, if you’ve started noticing rodent activity around your home, we promise you’re not imagining it. Take action now before it grows into your worst nightmare later on.
Our team at U.S. Pest is committed to helping Middle Tennessee families stay protected year-round with a customized plan that’s designed specifically for you and the needs of your home. After all, when it comes to rodents and other pests, prevention is always the better option.
