Are rats dangerous?

How dangerous are rats, really?

Rats are a genuine health risk, but serious illness from them is rare in the UK. The danger comes mainly from their urine and droppings, not from the rats themselves.

Rats urinate wherever they go to mark their territory. The BPCA lists leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), salmonella, listeria, toxoplasma and hantavirus among the diseases they can spread. These pass mainly through urine or contact with food preparation areas.

Rats also gnaw constantly to keep their teeth in shape. The BPCA says they can chew through wood, plastic, metal and even cinderblock. That puts cables and pipes under floors and in lofts at risk.

Risk	How it happens	How likely, and what helps
Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease)	Infected urine, or contaminated water or soil, gets into your mouth, eyes or a cut	Rare in the UK. Cover cuts, wear gloves, wash hands
Food poisoning, such as salmonella	Urine or droppings on food, worktops or packaging	Throw away food they may have touched. Disinfect surfaces
Bites	A cornered rat defending itself	Uncommon. Don’t try to catch a rat by hand
Electrical fire	Gnawing through cable sheathing	The BPCA calls this a significant fire risk. Get gnawed wiring checked by an electrician
Leaks	Gnawing through water or gas pipes	Check pipes near signs of rats

What is leptospirosis and how do you catch it?

Leptospirosis is an infection spread through the urine of infected animals, most often rats, mice, cows, pigs and dogs. You catch it when contaminated water or soil gets into your mouth, eyes or a cut.

Many people have no symptoms or a mild flu-like illness. Some become seriously ill. Possible symptoms include:

• a high temperature, headache and body aches
• feeling or being sick, or diarrhoea
• red eyes
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)

When should you see a GP?

See a GP if you get a fever, chills, headache, aches, sickness, diarrhoea or red eyes after possible contact with rats or rat urine. Tell them about the rats, as it helps them think of leptospirosis.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if you have any of these:

• yellow skin or eyes
• a rash
• you can’t pass urine
• swollen ankles, feet or hands
• chest pain or shortness of breath

A GP can usually treat leptospirosis with antibiotics, and most people recover within days or weeks. If a rat bites you, wash the bite thoroughly even if the skin isn’t broken. Apply antiseptic and get medical advice.

How do you clean up rat droppings safely?

UKHSA’s advice for rodent droppings is written for pet rodents, but the same steps keep you safe with wild rats.

1. Put on rubber household gloves and an FFP1 or FFP2 dust mask. Cover any cuts with waterproof plasters.
2. Don’t sweep or vacuum. It throws particles into the air.
3. Dampen the droppings and nest material well with water, then add disinfectant.
4. Leave the disinfectant for at least 5 minutes.
5. Pick everything up with wet wipes or paper towels, bag it and put it in your bin.
6. Disinfect the surface again, then wash your hands with soap and water.

Throw away any food or packaging that rats may have touched. Wash worktops and chopping boards before you prepare food again.

Not sure what left the droppings? See rat or mouse droppings: how to tell.

When to call someone

Call a professional if you see droppings indoors, fresh gnaw marks on cables or pipes, or rats in daylight. Rats are social, so one sighting usually means more. A female can breed every six weeks, with litters of 6 to 8.

Eleven Pest Control’s rat treatment starts from £149 including VAT and 2 visits. We agree a fixed price on the phone before anyone visits. Read how long it takes to get rid of rats to see what to expect.