Nestled in the San Fernando Valley, Canoga Park is a Los Angeles County neighborhood that is home to over 60,000 ethnically diverse residents. As is the case with any urban enclave in California – or anywhere, for that matter – from time to time people in the community have issues involving rodents. When it comes to rodent problem in a residence or business, it is important to understand the ins and outs associated with effective, safe rat dropping cleaning in Canoga Park.

The Danger of Rat Droppings

Your first reacting to rat droppings in your residence may be irritation and a sense of being at least somewhat “grossed out.” Like many Canoga Park residents, you may not fully appreciate the inherent heath hazards that can be associated with rat droppings. The reality is that rat droppings can carry a number of pathogens that can result in diseases in human beings. Two of the disease of note that is transmitted via rat droppings are salmonellosis and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis, more commonly known as salmonella infection or food poisoning, occurs when food or drink somehow comes into contact with rat droppings. For example, if a person involves in food preparation has contact with rat droppings and then handles food or drink, salmonella can be transmitted to it.

Caused by bacteria, salmonella poisoning is rarely fatal. With that said, when a person suffers from salmonella infection, the symptoms are unpleasant. They include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramping. Many people infected with salmonella bacterium recover on their own within four to seven days. With that said, if you do suspect you’ve salmonella poisoning, you should consult your primary care physician.

Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a serious health condition associated with rat droppings. There are cases in which a person infected with the hantavirus ends up suffering from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a condition that oftentimes is fatal. In basic terms, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes the rupture of capillaries in a person’s lungs. If the condition doesn’t abate, a person’s lungs fill with blood and other fluids, potentially resulting in an individual’s death.

It’s Not Just Fresh Rat Droppings – Dry Rat Feces Can Be Highly Dangerous

Another understandable misconception about rat droppings is the mistaken belief that they are only dangerous when fresh. Time and again we hear that viruses and bacteria cannot survive for much time outside of their hosts. Thus, we understandable presume that dry rat droppings will not contain anything harmful to us. As a result, we pay no never mind to the manner in which we clean up rat droppings.

The reality is that the highly dangerous hantavirus will live on in dry rat feces for an extended period of time. Because you can never tell if rat droppings, fresh or dry, are contaminated by hantavirus or some other pathogen, you must always approach these feces as if they contain dangerous bacteria or viruses.

Dry rat droppings are fragile. As a result, with nothing more than the touch of a broom, dry rat droppings can crumble and turn to dust. When that occurs, particles of rat droppings become aerosolized or airborne. If the particles contain hantavirus, that pathogen becomes airborne as well. Absent proper protection, a person in the vicinity of airborne rat dropping particles can breathe them in. If the particles are contaminated with hantavirus, the virus itself can be breathed into a person’s body, potentially causing an infection, perhaps ultimately leading to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

The Safe Removal of Rat Droppings in Canoga Park

The safe removal of rat droppings in Canoga Park is crucial. Your health, the health of your family, and the health of others depend on the thorough, safe cleanup of rat droppings.

The rat dropping cleanup process demands the use of appropriate personal protective equipment that includes:

• Mask or respirator
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Smock, apron, or uniform
• Show covering
• Hair covering

In order to ensure that the risk of exposure to rat droppings completely is eliminated, appropriate cleaning and sanitizing equipment and supplies are a must. Professional grade equipment and supplies are ideal for this type of task and are used by an experienced rat dropping cleaning company in Canoga Park. Indeed, this level of equipment, materials, and supplies is recommended.

If you detect rat droppings in your home or business, you need to immediately keep other people in your residence away from the location where these feces are found. If someone accidentally steps on droppings, the feces can become airborne and potentially can infect a person with a harmful pathogen that can result in a serious disease.

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