8 Most Common Diseases Spread by Rodents In Canada

Rodents such as voles, rats, and mice are common in Canadian yards. Not only are they annoying, but they seriously endanger your health and that of your pets’ with diseases they carry, some of which are fatal.

We break down eight diseases spread by rodents and their effects on humans and animals.

1. Hantavirus

Every year, there’s an average of about 4–5 new Hantavirus cases in Canada. Thankfully, it’s a rare but, unfortunately, deadly disease caused by the virus found in the urine, droppings, and saliva of infected rodents, primarily deer mice.

You can get hantavirus by breathing in contaminated dust, touching or handling infected rodents or their nests, or being bitten by them. The symptoms of hantavirus include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cough.

In severe cases, hantavirus can cause respiratory failure and death. There’s no specific treatment or vaccine for hantavirus. To prevent hantavirus, avoid contact with rodents and their droppings, seal any gaps or holes in your home, and use traps or baits to get rid of them.

2. Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can affect both humans and animals. It’s spread via the urine of infected rodents, such as rats, mice, voles, and squirrels.

You can get leptospirosis by coming into contact with contaminated water, soil, or food or through direct contact with infected animals. That being said, we haven’t seen any alarming number of human infections in Canada. However, there may be an increase in leptospirosis in dogs in North America. The symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, headache, chills, muscle pain, jaundice, rash, and red eyes.

To prevent leptospirosis, avoid contact with rodent urine or contaminated water, wear protective clothing and gloves when handling animals, and vaccinate your pets.