Posted on: Friday, April 8, 2005

Rodent invasion likely to follow rainy weather

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

As a wet winter gives way to spring and summer, Hawai'i residents should brace for the pitter-patter of tiny rodent feet — lots of them.

More mice than usual will be making their way into Hawai'i homes soon, according to the state Department of Health.

"A wet winter produced a bumper crop of grass and weed seeds, supplying plenty of food for mice and their offspring," said Glenn Sugioka of the department's vector control branch. "When it starts getting dry and natural food sources go away, the mice will start migrating and looking for food."

When they migrate through the living room and into the kitchen, they could bring more than their offspring and other close relatives with them, according to Sarah Park, deputy chief for the department's disease outbreak control division.

"We worry that they might carry fleas," she said. "The fleas can spread to areas where the mice aren't."

Through the fleas, the mice may spread typhus, she said.

"It can cause flu-like symptoms — aches and pains," she said. "Or, it could be severe. Like leptospirosis.

"Like a lot of our infectious diseases, it makes our lives interesting," she said.

The mice may also harbor the bacteria for leptospirosis in their kidneys and spread the disease through their urine, she said. They may even eat contaminated garbage and spread salmonella to food left out in the kitchen.

Health department officials hope residents will take precautions now to prevent rodents from getting into their homes.

Common entryways are gaps under doors, unscreened ceiling vent holes and holes in walls around sewer and water pipes. Vector control officials recommend sealing those entries with quarter-inch mesh metal screen, sheet metal or cement.

If the mice get inside, the health department recommends using snap traps to get rid of them. Place a plastic bag over the hand to remove a mouse and seal it in the bag to discard.

Careful hand washing after handling dead mice will help to prevent disease, Park said.

The traps will work better if alternate food sources, such as pet bowls and garbage containers, are removed.

To get rid of fleas, vacuum carpets and furniture and throw away the disposable vacuum bag, then use an aerosol insecticide labeled for fleas, following instructions carefully.

Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.