Salmonella is a type of bacterial infection that is commonly caused by contaminated food or water, but can also result from contact with small rodents and reptiles.
Many wild animals, including mice, rats, snakes, and turtles, naturally carry Salmonella in their intestinal tract with zero signs of illness. Other animals can easily become infected through contact with sick animals or by ingesting contaminated food.
Salmonella is one of the many zoonotic diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Symptoms of Salmonella
After being exposed to Salmonella, symptoms can begin appearing as early as six hours or as late as six days after infection.
The most common symptoms of Salmonella include fever, chills, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and headaches. Typically, symptoms will only last between 4 to 7 days, while the more serious cases can last up to several weeks.
Salmonella is not generally considered a life-threatening disease, but it can lead to dangerous complications in certain groups of people, including infants, pregnant women, older adults, transplant recipients, and individuals with weakened immune systems. All of these groups should take special precaution to avoid the spread of infection.
When recovering, it is important to stay hydrated in order to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. If the condition does not improve over time or if any problems arise, seek medical treatment immediately.
Spread From Animal To Human
Salmonella can be passed from wild animals to humans in two main ways: direct contact and indirect contact.
Direct contact occurs when an individual comes into contact with saliva, blood, urine, feces, or other bodily fluids of an infected rodent or reptile. Touching, scratching, biting, and ingesting are all examples of direct contact.
Indirect contact occurs when an individual comes into contact with areas an infested animal has been or objects they contaminated. This means touching countertops, nests, cabinets, or other places that mice, rats, or snakes have previously touched.
Reduce Risk of Salmonella
If you come into direct contact with a small rodent or reptile, the best thing to do to reduce risk of Salmonella is wash your hands vigorously for 20 seconds or longer. If you believe you have a wild animal in your home, always wash your hands before and after handling food items, and thoroughly clean common points of contact.
Have A Wild Animal Problem? Call the Experts at Shumaker Animal Control
If you think you have a wild animal problem on your property, call the experts at Shumaker Animal Control to deal with the problem for you. Our experienced team will take care of the problem in a timely manner, ensuring that your home and pets are not in any danger.
At Shumaker Animal Control, we are a family-owned business who cares about the safety of you and your family but also about the well-being of the animals themselves. All of our trapping and control methods are humane, as we never try to hurt the angry or scared animal.
Call us at 443-854-8072, visit our website or fill out our contact form for more information.