Five reasons why rats are dangerous to humans

SALMONELLA

We generally know salmonella as a type of food poisoning, although it is in fact the name of the group of bacteria that cause it. Salmonellosis is the disease caused by eating food that is raw, undercooked or in many cases too frequently reheated. The three main strains of salmonella bacteria found to be carried by rats and transferred to food are S. enteriditis, S. typhimurion and S. dublin.

LISTERIA

The genus of listeria most commonly related to infection in humans and found to be carried by rodents is L. monocytogenes. Listeria has been found in a large number of rodent population, with rates of infection ranging from 10-75%.

LEPTOSPIRA

Rodent urine and contaminated soil are the most common sources of the bacteria leptospira. The early symptoms of leptospirosis are often flulike with high fever, chills, severe headache, muscle ache and vomiting.

E. COLI OR ESHERISCHIA COLI

The most important strain in humans is E. coli 0157. It is a major source of food-borne illness with symptoms ranging from nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea. Occasionally, infection can lead to more serious complications such as kidney failure and anaemia, with children being in the highest-risk group.

Around 40 per cent of the rat population is infected with E. coli and many reported cases of infection can be related to rodent transfer of the disease.

HANTAVIRUS

Less commonly known than many of the disease mentioned above, hantavirus is no less dangerous. Early symptoms are flu-like and can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, kidney failure, low blood pressure and low blood oxygen levels, giving the sufferer a blue tinge to their skin tone.

The most common accepted source of hantavirus is from the dust of dry rodent droppings.