Mice Poop Disease – Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention 2025 – Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention 2025
You must hear that “Mice Poop Disease” is not a simple term. It refers to a chronic disease that enters your body if you contract it from rodents, such as rats or mice, or through their urine and droppings. The viral disease that is linked to mice poop disease is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).
If you see mouse droppings in your home, you must take precautions to stay away from or clean them. Never visit rural areas or close buildings, because these types of places include Hantavirus. Our site provides you with all the information about diseases, symptoms, and prevention. Here, we provide all guides to mouse poop diseases and how to avoid them.
Disease spread by Mice Poop
Mice poop disease is not a simple disease. If you get one of the diseases, Hantavirus, then your life becomes threatening. There are various diseases spread by the poop of white-footed mice or rodents, including their droppings, urine, or saliva.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is caused by infection with hantaviruses that critical effect on therespiratory system or the Heart, which are carried by certain rodents, especially Deer mice in North America. People become infected mainly by breathing in air contaminated with the virus, which is released through rodent urine, droppings, or saliva is dry and mixed in the air. See in detail about Hantavirus. Once the virus enters the body, it first targets the lungs, damaging small blood vessels, capillaries, causing them to leak fluid. This leads to pulmonary edema, making it extremely hard to breathe.
Symptoms of HPS
Early Stage (1–2 weeks after exposure)
Fever, fatigue, muscle aches
Headaches, dizziness, chills
Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
Early Stage (1–2 weeks after exposure)
Fever, fatigue, muscle aches
Headaches, dizziness, chills
Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
Treatment
Early hospital admission: Patients with Hantavirus should be hospitalized as soon as possible, ideally before severe breathing problems begin.
Oxygen therapy: Supplying oxygen through a mask or nasal tube to help with breathing to the patient.
Mechanical ventilation: In severe cases of Hantavirus, a ventilator may be used to support lung function.
Intensive care monitoring: Continuous observation of heart, lungs, and blood pressure.
Fluid management: Carefully balancing fluids to avoid worsening lung swelling.
Prevention of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
Seal the entry points of the mouse to seal holes, gaps in walls, and roofs.
Keep food covered.
Maintain the cleanliness of your home and building.
Wear protective gear like a mask and gloves while cleaning.
Avoid sweeping or vacuuming droppings.
Proper disposal of the rodent droppings, nests.
Control the rodent population
Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is an infectious disease caused by Salmonella bacteria that is actively found in animal feces, including mouse droppings.
Symptoms
Usually appear 6 hours to 6 days after infection:
Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
Fever
Stomach cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Treatment
In Most cases, resolve without treatment in 4–7 days.
Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration these days.
Severe cases may require antibiotics to treat Salmonellosis.
Hospitalization may be needed for the patient to have fewer complications, but you need to complete the treatment.
Prevention
Cook meat, poultry, and eggs thoroughly.
Wash your hands after using the bathroom, handling raw meat, or touching animals for 20 seconds with soap.
You must avoid consuming raw or unpasteurized milk, cheese, or juice.
Prevent rodent infestations and clean droppings safely with precautions.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by Leptospiraspecies, often spread through water or soil contaminated with urine from infected animals, including rats and mice in some countries.
Symptoms
The symptoms appear in 2–14 days after exposure to this disease and may be mild or severe:
High fever
Headache
Chills
Muscle aches (especially in calves and lower back)
Red eyes
Vomiting and diarrhea
Skin rash
Severe cases (Weil’s disease) can cause:
Jaundice (yellowing skin/eyes)
Kidney damage
Liver failure
Meningitis
Bleeding in the lungs
Treatment
Antibiotics may be required (doxycycline or penicillin), started early for best results.
Hospitalization is the best option in severe cases.
Required: Supportive care for kidney, liver, or respiratory complications.
Causes
If you contact with infected rodents’ urine mixed in water, soil, or food contaminated or with other animals, then the chances of Leptospirosis may increase.
Leptospirosis enters through minor cuts, abrasions, or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth).
The virus enters your body if you drink contaminated water.
Prevention
Avoid swimming or wading in water that may stay for a long time and is contaminated with animal/mouse urine.
Must wear gloves, boots, and a mask when cleaning rodent-infested areas to avoid the virus.
Control rodent populations around your home and work areas, like those close to buildings.
Always drink clean water.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) is a viral infection conveyed by the common house mouse (Mus musculus). People can be infected by contact with fresh urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials from infected rodents.
Causes
From exposure to infected mice, fresh urine, feces, saliva, or nesting material.
Breathing in tiny airborne particles contaminated with the virus.
Bite from an infected rodent.
Symptoms
Symptoms often appear 8–13 days after exposure. The illness can occur in two phases:First Phase (Flu-like symptoms):
Fever
Lack of appetite
Muscle aches
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Second Phase (Neurological symptoms) – in some cases:
Meningitis (fever, headache, stiff neck)
Encephalitis (confusion, drowsiness)
Myelitis (muscle weakness, numbness)
Prevention
No specific antiviral treatment is supportive for Lymphocytic.
Must visit the Hospitalization for severe cases.
Try Pain relievers and fever reducers.
Intravenous fluids if needed.
Treatment
The patient must avoid direct contact with wild mice and their droppings.
Seal gaps and holes in homes to prevent rodents from entering.
Wear gloves and a mask when cleaning areas with mouse droppings.
Keep food in rodent-proof containers.
Rat-Bite Fever
Rat-Bite Fever (RBF) is a rare case but a bacterial infection that humans can get from rodents, including rats, mice, and gerbils, or from consuming food and water contaminated by them.
Causes
Rat-Bite Fever can be caused by two types of bacteria:
Streptobacillus moniliformis – most common in North America.
Spirillum minus – more common in Asia.
Infection occurs along:
Bites or scratches from infected rodents can cause this virus.
Touch rodents without gloves.
Eating/drinking contaminated food or water.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a rat bite usually appear 3–10 days after exposure:
Fever and chills
Muscle aches
Headache
Vomiting
Rash (often on hands and feet)
Joint pain and swelling
If this illness is left untreated, RBF can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, meningitis, or sepsis.
Treatment
Antibiotics are very effective against bite fever (commonly penicillin or doxycycline).
Treatment usually lasts for 7–14 days.
Must care for fever and pain.
Prevention
If you see any rodent, then avoid direct contact with any wild rodents.
Wear gloves when touching rodents, whether alive or dead, or cleaning cages.
By sealing entry points, keep living spaces rodent-free.
Avoid eating/drinking where rodents are present because there is a chance of getting infected with various diseases.
Plague
Plague is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is actively found in rodents, including mice and their fleas. While it’s historically legendary for causing the “Black Death” in the 14th century, plague still exists today in some parts of the world because of mice.
Types of Plague
Bubonic Plague: Most common form; affects lymph nodes.
Septicemic Plague: Bacteria multiply in the blood and can occur alone or from untreated bubonic plague.
Pneumonic Plague: Affects the lungs and can spread from person to person through droplets.
Transmission
Bite from infected fleas that have fed on rodents.
Direct contact, like touching with body fluids/tissues of infected animals.
Inhalation of respiratory droplets from an infected person or animal (pneumonic plague).
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear in 2–6 days after plague infection:
Septicemic: Fever, abdominal pain, bleeding under skin, shock, gangrene.
Pneumonic: Fever, cough with blood, chest pain, difficulty breathing.
Treatment
Antibiotics (streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin) were started as soon as possible if you see any symptoms.
Contact hospital care for severe cases.
Prevention
Control rodent populations around homes and workplaces as soon as possible.
Must use flea control for pets.
Avoid handling like touching or beating wild rodents without protection, like wearing gloves and a mask.
Tularemia
Tularemia is also called “Rabbit Fever,” is a rare time infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It can be transmitted if you have direct contact with infected mouse bites, contaminated food/water, or inhalation of contaminated dust.
Forms of Tularemia
Tularemiahas several clinical forms depending on the route of infection:
Ulceroglandular – skin ulcer and swollen lymph nodes (most common).
Glandular – swollen lymph nodes without an ulcer.
Oculoglandular – eye infection with swelling.
Oropharyngeal – sore throat, mouth ulcers from ingesting contaminated food/water.Pneumonic – lung infection from inhaling bacteria; most serious form.
Transmission
Handling infected animals, especially rabbits, rodents, and hares.
From Tick and deer fly bites.
Mistakenly drinking or eating contaminated food/water.
Breathing in contaminated dust or aerosols.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Tularemiaappear in 3–5 days after exposure (range: 1–14 days):
Sudden fever and chills
Headache and fatigue
Skin ulcer (in ulceroglandular form)
Swollen lymph nodes
Cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing (in pneumonic form)
Treatment
Antibiotics: Streptomycin and gentamicin are most effective against Tularemia.
Doxycycline or ciprofloxacin may also be used in mild cases.
Early treatment of this is better to prevent critical complications.
Preventions
Wear gloves when handling wild animals.
Cook the meat perfectly.
Use insect repellents to avoid tick/deer fly bites.
Must avoid drinking untreated surface water.
Protect yourself against dust inhalation in areas where disease is common.
Murine Typhus
Murine Typhus is an infectious disease caused by the bacteriumRickettsia typhi. This is transmitted through fleas that infest rodents, especially rats, to humans primarily. Murine Typhus, also called endemic typhus, is a flea-borne illness caused by Rickettsia typhi. It commonly occurs in areas where rats and fleas are prevalent.
Transmission
The disease spreads when infected flea feces enter your body through breaks in the skin or mucous membranes, often when a person scratches a flea bite. The main reasons for Murine Typhus are rats and other rodents; fleas act as vectors.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Murine Typhus typically appear within 1-2 weeks after exposure and include:
High fever
Headache
Muscle aches (myalgia)
Rash (appears in some cases)
Nausea and vomiting
General malaise
Treatment
The antibiotic doxycycline is the treatment of choice for Murine Typhus.
Early treatment for Murine Typhus usually leads to full recovery.
Prevention
First, control rodent populations in living areas like the home or building.
Use flea control for pets to avoid Murine Typhus.
To reduce flea and rodent contact, maintain good sanitation.
Avoid scratching flea bites to prevent infection with Murine Typhus.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are flat, segmented parasitic worms that live in the intestines of animals, including humans. They belong to the class Cestoda. Tapeworm infections occur when a person ingests larvae or eggs from contaminated food, water, or undercooked meat.
Common Types of Tapeworms Infecting Humans
Taenia saginata (Beef tapeworm)
Taenia solium (Pork tapeworm)
Diphyllobothrium latum (Fish tapeworm)
Hymenolepis nana (Dwarf tapeworm)
Symptoms
Often, tapeworm infections cause mild or no symptoms, but can include:
Abdominal discomfort or pain.
Nausea.
Diarrhea or constipation.
Weight loss and malnutrition.
Visible segments of the worm in the stool.
In severe cases, especially with Taenia solium larvae migrating outside the intestines, cysticercosis can occur, affecting muscles, eyes, or the brain.
Treatment
Anti-parasitic medications such as praziquantel or albendazole are best.
Proper hygiene and cooking meat properly to help in preventing reinfection.
Prevention
Cook meat and fish properly to avoid this disease.
Practice good hygiene, including washing hands for 20 seconds with soap.
Control of intermediate hosts and sanitation of your home and areas.
Final Verdict
Dealing with mouse poop or mouse droppings is not just a matter of cleaning your house, but it is also crucial for your health. Mice poop transmits a variety of harmful diseases that can cause serious health issues if not dealt with properly on time.
Understanding the symptoms and treatments of the above-mentioned diseases is crucial for early detection and effective management. By taking preventive measures, you can reduce the risk of infestation in your house, which in turn helps you stay safe and healthy.
FAQ’s
Hantavirus is a chronic disease caused by mouse droppings. If you breathe in a rodent’s environment without any precautions, then you can be infected with hantavirus, which can harm your lungs and heart.
Mouse droppings disease has different symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and respiratory issues like coughing and shortness of breath.
Here are 8 types of diseases that mice can transform into humans, including hantavirus, leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, salmonellosis, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV).
Mice droppings remain in the environment few hours to a few days. After drying dry mix it with the air, and if you breathe or touch, then Hantavirus is waiting for you. Must be aware of this virus.
