First aid for rat bites

Rats are pests and vectors of a number of infectious diseases to humans, including very dangerous diseases with high mortality rates if left untreated. Some common diseases transmitted from mice such as plague, pneumonia, hemorrhagic jaundice, hemorrhagic fever with kidney failure caused by Hantavirus...

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Rats spread disease to humans through food contaminated with them, from insects such as fleas and ticks, or through feces, urine, saliva, or rat scratches or bites.

According to Master, Doctor Le Hong Nga, Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Disease Control and Biological Vaccines at the Center for Preventive Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City, most of these diseases transmitted by rats have no preventive vaccines, so to To prevent the transmission of the above diseases to humans, it is necessary to control the growth of mice, limit contact with rats as well as get proper medical care after being injured by rats.

Some ways to prevent diseases related to rats:

- Get medical care when there is a rat bite wound:

 + Rat bites can be the entrance of diseases such as Rabies, Rat bite fever...

+ Wounds need proper medical care such as washing with soap and water, then disinfecting with alcohol or povidin, available at most drugstores.

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+ Injured people need to immediately go to medical facilities to be examined, prescribed drugs and vaccinated against diseases. Rats are rarely infected with the rabies virus, but if bitten by a rat, they still need rabies vaccination.

- Control the growth of the mouse:

+ The folk method of raising cats to catch mice is still considered an effective and safe measure. Measures such as placing cage traps, adhesives are also recommended to be used in households.

+ Use chemicals to kill mice. There are many types of rat poison that have been used and all are toxic to humans and pets. In the past, people often used zinc phosphide (also known as zinc phosphorus), which is a neurotoxic chemical, rats died on the spot after being fed bait. In addition, anticoagulants are also commonly used in pill form. This type of rat bait is now very popular on the market because of its convenience and effectiveness. With this chemical, mice can die right after eating bait a few days.

+ In urban areas, if a rat carcass is found on the premises of the house, you must wear rubber gloves to put the mouse body in a multi-layer plastic bag, seal it and put it in the trash.

+ In rural or periphery areas with a lot of bare land, burying rat corpses is recommended.

+ In December and January 2013, the city's health department organizes rat extermination in some key areas, it is possible that the amount of rat carcasses will appear more and more simultaneously. Therefore, the health sector will organize the collection of rat carcasses and treat them according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health to ensure environmental hygiene.

- Keep the house clean, limit the hiding places of mice and handle hygiene in places where there are mice:

+ The nature of the house mouse often makes burrows in dark, covered corners. Therefore, keeping the house neat and clean, not piling up unused furniture will help limit the existence of mice in the house. Closed doors and cabinets will also prevent mice from entering from the outside.

+ Rats often live in places where it is easy to find food. Therefore, keeping food covered and limiting spillage will limit the attractiveness of mice, thereby limiting the penetration of rats.

+ Should use rubber gloves when cleaning the house when a mouse is suspected to avoid direct contact with rat urine and feces.

+ If faeces or urine of rats are detected, must use Javel water mixed according to the instructions for use on the bottle label to clean the contaminated surface, then wipe with clean water and dry.

+ Do not dry sweep surfaces contaminated with faeces and urine of mice because dust or droplets carrying pathogens can be inhaled.

Le Phuong - VnExpress