Risks
for House Mouse
Mice eat and foul food meant for people and livestock, and they can pass along illnesses such as salmonellosis, a form of food poisoning; UC IPM also lists salmonella among the diseases these mice carry. Source: https://extension.missouri.edu/g9442 Source: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/house-mouse/ Rodents such as rats, mice, and chipmunks carry many diseases, and people can pick up those pathogens by breathing contaminated air or eating food tainted with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/rodent-control/index.html Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) is a viral illness carried by the common house mouse, Mus musculus; exposure comes from contact with fresh urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting material from infected rodents. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/lymphocytic-choriomeningitis/about/index.html Source: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/house-mouse/ Roughly 5% of house mice nationwide are thought to carry and spread the LCM virus [UC IPM]; the Pennsylvania Department of Health LCM fact sheet likewise puts the share of U.S. mice carrying LCMV at about 5%. Source: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/house-mouse/ Source: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/diseases-and-conditions/Lymphocytic%20Choriomeningitis%20.pdf The CDC warns LCM can pass to the fetus during pregnancy: a first-trimester infection may end in miscarriage, while second- or third-trimester infections can cause serious birth defects. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/lymphocytic-choriomeningitis/about/index.html