What diseases do mice carry?

House mice and wild mice can carry a number of diseases that can affect humans, primarily through contact with droppings, urine, saliva, nesting materials, and through parasites they bring indoors. The most serious is hantavirus, particularly from deer mice, which can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory disease that is spread when dried droppings and urine become airborne and are inhaled. Mice can also carry salmonella, which causes food poisoning with diarrhea and fever, spread when mice contaminate food and surfaces. They can carry leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread through water contaminated with urine. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, or LCMV, is carried by house mice and can cause flu-like symptoms and in rare cases meningitis, especially dangerous for pregnant women. Mice can also spread tularemia and rat-bite fever. Additionally, mice bring in fleas, ticks, and mites that can transmit other diseases like Lyme disease. The risk is increased when you sweep or vacuum droppings without protection, which can aerosolize viruses. To stay safe, always wear gloves and a mask when cleaning droppings, disinfect with bleach solution, wash hands thoroughly, and store food in sealed containers to prevent contamination.