Far from being the cute and charming characters of cartoons and children s stories, mice and rats are dangerous creatures. And if that s not enough, mice strip the insulation off electric wiring, causing a fire hazard. The droppings should be thoroughly wetted with a disinfectant solution 1 cups bleach for each gallon of water and then placed in double plastic bags for disposal. Rats and mice frequent sewers, rotting garbage, cesspools, and similar sites where pathogenic bacteria thrive. The intestines of rats and mice contain high levels of pathogenic bacteria.
Rodents can contaminate stored foods, silverware, dishes, or food preparation surfaces.
Their droppings teem with pathogens, such as Salmonella. Cockroaches typically carry and spread approximately 50 different pathogenic microorganisms, such as salmonella, Vibrio cholerae, and poliomyelitis. They spread bacteria in a way similar to flies. When they bite, chew, walk on, and defecate on food they contaminate it. They are most active in dark areas and at night, where they encounter less disturbance from humans.