The Texas Department of Health Zoonosis Control Division has a specially trained investigation team that collects specimens according to an established protocol. Store food in a refrigerator or in securely sealed containers. Clean up spilled food, keep dishes clean, and place garbage in a can with a tight fitting lid every evening. Do not leave pet food out for pets to feed at will. Feed the pet and remove the food after 30 minutes.
Mice can crawl through dime-sized spaces, so seal or screen even the tiniest openings.
Use an insecticide that kills fleas. Also apply flea treatment to indoor pets. Trap rodents with traps that kill the rats or mice. Remember to follow all the disinfection precautions for disposing of dead rodents and the materials they have contaminated. These insects feed on rodent blood.