|
Although the risk of wildlife transmitted disease is usually low, homeowners who have had visits from
wild life critters in their attic space are at increased risk of exposure. Even after an animal has been captured and removed, the risk of
disease is still great due to contamination such as urine, feces, and parasites left behind in insulation and on attic floors and other surfaces.
A variety of wildlife diseases and parasites are at least potentially transmittable from animals to
humans. The table below is a list of potential wildlife disease risks homeowners should be aware of.
By removing infected insulation and sanitizing all exposed hard surfaces with anti-bacterial &
insecticidal cleaners, you can minimize your risk of disease resulting from wild life invasions.
We offer power suction removal of infected
insulation and droppings, surface disinfection, and re-insulation services. Often, depending on the type
of animal, these service are covered by homeowners insurance.
|
Disease or Parasite
|
Animal
|
Transmission Route to Humans
|
Geographical Region
|
|
Aspergillosis
|
Pigeon
|
(spores in airborne dust) Inhalation of spores
|
All
|
|
Botulism
|
Birds, mammals
|
Ingestion of contaminated substances
|
All
|
|
Colorado tick fever
|
Rodents (esp. ground squirrels)
|
Rocky Mountain wood tick
|
Western North
America
|
|
Cryptococcosis
|
Pigeons (feces)
|
Inhalation/ingestion of spores
|
All
|
|
Encephalitis
|
Bats, birds, squirrels
|
Mosquitoes
|
All
|
|
Histoplasmosis
|
Feces of especially birds and bats
|
Inhalation or ingestion of spores
|
All
|
|
Leptospirosis
|
Rodents
|
Contact w/urine contaminated materials
|
All
|
|
Lyme disease
|
Mammals, birds, reptiles (especially white-footed mice)
|
Deer tick Ixodes dammini and other Ixodes species
|
Northeast, Great Lakes states, and west coast
|
|
Lymphocytic-
chloriomeningitis
|
Mice and rats
|
Ingestion or inhalation of substances contaminated by urine, feces or saliva
|
All
|
|
New Castle's disease
|
Birds
|
Contact w/ infected birds, feces, eggs
|
All
|
|
Plague
|
Rodents
|
Fleas and handling infected rodents
|
Southwest US
|
|
Q (Query) Fever
|
Mammals, birds
|
Parasitic arthropods; inhalation or ingestion of contaminated substances
|
All
|
|
Rabies
|
Mammals (skunks, bats, raccoons, foxes are frequent hosts)
|
Animal bite or contact w/infected saliva or central nervous system tissue
|
All, most common host varies geographically
|
|
Raccoon roundworm
|
Raccoon
|
Contact with infected raccoon feces
|
Range of raccoon
|
|
Rickettsial pox
|
Mice
|
Mites
|
North America (esp.east)
|
|
Salmonellosis
|
Rodents, birds
|
Ingestion of fecal contaminates
|
All
|
|
Toxoplasmosis
|
Mammals, birds; main host cats
|
Ingestion of contaminated substances
|
All
|
|
Typhus
|
Rodents (including rats, mice, squirrels)
|
Flea bites; inhaling flea feces; direct contact with infected rodents
|
All (squirrels:
eastern US)
|
|
|
