Can Rodents Transmit Coronavirus?

There is a lot of malformation about the nature of coronaviruses, including how they’re spread. So can rodents transmit coronavirus? The good news is that there is no current evidence or research to show that rodents are transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to humans. The team at Dugas Pest Control is committed to staying informed on the latest information coming out about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We have seen a lot of questions surrounding the role of rats and other animals with transmission. Although some rodents have been proven to carry other coronaviruses, the strain associated with COVID-19 is not one of them.

Rats and Mice During COVID-19

The three most recently discovered human coronaviruses—including the virus causing the current pandemic, SARS-CoV-2—have all caused serious infections and deaths throughout the population. These three viruses have also been genetically traced to a bat origin that crossed over first to other animals before eventually to people. Rats are indeed capable of carrying coronaviruses, but they have not yet been linked to any direct transmissions of COVID-19.

Other Dangers of Rodents During the Pandemic

There have been a lot of reports of rodents being more rampant than ever during the pandemic. Although we know that rats are not transmitting SARS-CoV-2, there are other reasons why it’s more important than ever to prevent and control rodent problems right now:

1. Rats and mice can spread other diseases, including hantavirus, salmonellosis, and plague. They also can indirectly transmit diseases from ticks, mosquitoes, lice, and fleas. Some of these include Colorado tick fever, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
2. Due to the restaurant shutdowns and lockdowns, there have been a number of reported cases of rats and mice becoming more bold and rampant in the absence of food sources. This directly correlates to a bigger risk of infestations and rodent-spread issues.

Rodents in a Pandemic

As mentioned previously, there have been many reports of rodents becoming more aggressive in the past months in their hunt for food. This has led to growing infestations. Although you can rest easier knowing that rats and mice will not transmit COVID-19, they are still dangerous for several other reasons. It’s as important as ever to implement rodent prevention into your home maintenance routine. If you already have noticed the signs of rodents in your Baton Rouge area home, the rodent exterminators at Dugas are here to help.