{"id":1308,"date":"2026-08-05T10:33:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T10:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/what-diseases-do-rats-and-mice-spread\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T09:48:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T09:48:09","slug":"what-diseases-do-rats-and-mice-spread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/what-diseases-do-rats-and-mice-spread\/","title":{"rendered":"What diseases do rats and mice spread?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rats and mice are among the most common urban pests and a significant public health risk. As well as contaminating food and surfaces, they can transmit bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause serious illness. They also cause property damage and hygiene problems, especially in homes, residential communities, restaurants, hotels and food businesses.<\/p>\n

In Mallorca, the climate keeps these rodents active for much of the year, so prevention is essential. Spotting an infestation early and calling in rodent control in Mallorca<\/a> protects people’s health and stops the problem growing.<\/p>\n

How do rats and mice spread disease?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rodents spread disease mainly through their urine, droppings and saliva. These can contaminate food, utensils, surfaces or water tanks. In addition, cleaning areas with dried droppings without proper precautions can lead to breathing in contaminated particles.<\/p>\n

Although bites are less common, they can also transmit certain bacteria. Fleas and other parasites living on rats can also act as vectors for some diseases.<\/p>\n

That is why rodent control in Mallorca is a key preventive measure to remove sources of infection before they become a risk for homes or businesses.<\/p>\n

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Main diseases spread by rats and mice<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rats and mice can carry many diseases. Some of the most important are:<\/p>\n

Leptospirosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Leptospirosis is caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans<\/em> and is mainly spread through contact with water or surfaces contaminated with the urine of infected rats.<\/p>\n

Symptoms include fever, muscle pain and headache. In the most serious cases it can develop into Weil’s disease, causing liver damage, kidney failure and even death.<\/p>\n

Salmonellosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Salmonellosis occurs when food or surfaces are contaminated with Salmonella<\/em> bacteria present in rodent droppings.<\/p>\n

It causes diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain, and is especially dangerous for children, older people and people with weakened immune systems.<\/p>\n

Hantavirus<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was identified in 1993 after an outbreak in the Four Corners region of the United States. Infection occurs by inhaling contaminated particles from certain wild rodents.<\/p>\n

It is a rare but very serious disease, with a death rate of around 38% among those who develop respiratory symptoms.<\/p>\n

It is worth noting that the most common urban rats, such as the brown rat and the black rat, are not the main carriers of the hantavirus described in North America.<\/p>\n

Other diseases<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Rodents can also transmit rat-bite fever and lymphocytic choriomeningitis, and they have helped spread historical diseases such as plague, carried by the fleas that live on them. They can also be indirectly involved in transmitting other parasites and bacteria that affect both people and animals.<\/p>\n

Rodent control in Mallorca greatly reduces the risk of exposure to these microorganisms, especially in premises where hygiene is a priority.<\/p>\n

Which rat and mouse species are most common in Mallorca?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The most common species in Mallorca are the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus<\/em>), the black rat (Rattus rattus<\/em>) and the house mouse (Mus musculus<\/em>).<\/p>\n

The brown rat usually lives in basements, sewers and damp areas, while the black rat prefers roofs, old buildings and port areas. The house mouse, being so small, easily settles in homes, warehouses and shops.<\/p>\n

All of them look for food, water and shelter, and breed very quickly when conditions are right. That is why early rodent control in Mallorca is the best way to stop a few rodents from turning into an infestation that is hard to control.<\/p>\n

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What risks do rats and mice pose in homes and businesses?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rats and mice are not only a health risk but also a threat to the safety and finances of homes and businesses. They contaminate food, utensils and surfaces with urine, droppings and saliva, spreading disease and compromising food safety.<\/p>\n

They also cause serious damage. Because they need to keep wearing down their teeth, they gnaw electrical cables, pipes, wood, plastics and insulation, which can cause breakdowns and even fires. In hotels, restaurants, supermarkets or bakeries, an infestation can also seriously damage the business’s reputation and lead to financial losses.<\/p>\n

In residential communities, rats often move between garages, storage rooms, gardens and shared areas, so acting quickly is essential. Rodent control in Mallorca gets rid of the problem before the colony grows and the damage gets worse.<\/p>\n

How to prevent a rodent infestation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Preventing rats and mice is always easier than getting rid of an established infestation. To do this, keep things clean, clear away food scraps every day, store food in airtight containers and keep rubbish tightly closed.<\/p>\n

It is also a good idea to check the building regularly and seal cracks, gaps and any entry points that could let rodents in. In gardens and outdoor areas, avoid piles of materials and keep vegetation under control, as they can provide shelter.<\/p>\n

Food businesses should carry out regular preventive inspections to detect any sign of activity before an infestation spreads.<\/p>\n

Although traps and household products are available, they usually only deal with a few animals and rarely solve the root cause. When there is already a colony, professional rodent control in Mallorca can locate burrows, eliminate sources of infestation and set up follow-up measures to prevent new outbreaks.<\/p>\n

Prevention also means acting quickly. A pair of rodents can breed in a very short time if they have food and shelter, so early action will always be quicker, more effective and cheaper than waiting for the infestation to grow.<\/p>\n

How is professional rodent control carried out?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When a rat or mouse infestation is already present, the best solution is professional treatment. Rodent control in Mallorca starts with a complete inspection of the premises to identify the species, locate entry points and assess how severe the infestation is.<\/p>\n

After the diagnosis, an action plan is designed for each property. Depending on the needs, secure bait stations, mechanical traps or monitoring systems may be installed to control rodent activity safely and effectively.<\/p>\n

Once treatment has been applied, regular checks are essential to confirm it is working, replace bait when needed and correct the factors that led to the infestation. As well as removing the animals present, professional rodent control in Mallorca aims to stop rodents getting back into the building through preventive measures and ongoing follow-up.<\/p>\n

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[rt_ai_faqs id=\"1007\"]<\/code><\/p>\n

[rt_ai_rating id=\"1007\"]<\/code><\/p>\n

J&L Plagas, your rodent control specialist in Mallorca<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you are looking for a reliable company for rodent control in Mallorca, J&L Plagas<\/strong> offers a professional, effective service adapted to each situation. Our team is qualified, holds ROESB 1067 IBA registration and has extensive experience in homes, residential communities, hotels, restaurants, food shops and industrial premises.<\/p>\n

We work with personalised inspections, safe treatments and follow-up plans that eliminate the infestation at its source and prevent future ones. We also offer a discreet service, using working methods that minimise disruption to our clients’ daily activity.<\/p>\n

If you have spotted rats or mice in your home or business, don’t wait for the problem to grow. At J&L Plagas<\/strong> we offer the most effective solutions to protect your health, your property and your peace of mind with a professional rodent control service in Mallorca.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rats and mice are among the most common urban pests and a significant public health risk. As well as contaminating food and surfaces, they can transmit bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause serious illness. They also cause property damage and hygiene problems, especially in homes, residential communities, restaurants, hotels and food businesses. In Mallorca, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-en-us"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1308"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1308\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jylplagas.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}