One of the most common reasons for attic insulation removal is rodent/ wildlife damage or infestation. Wildlife, rodents like rats and mice, will view the insulation in your attic as their ideal home. Attics are warm, dry, removed from predators and the elements, and insulation makes an irresistible material for nesting in.
Unfortunately, when rodents and wildlife nest in attic insulation many problems arise. Here are some of the most common health impacts that can arise from rodents that make your attic insulation their home:
One important thing to note about the items in this list is that many can be contracted by coming into contact with urine or feces left behind by infected rodents. This includes breathing in the dust that enters the air when dried urine and feces are disturbed. This is why the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that individuals who are cleaning up after a rodent infestation allow up to 5 days after an infestation has been cleared to begin cleaning a contaminated space. The CDC also recommends soaking urine, feces, or nesting materials with a disinfectant before you begin cleaning.
What the CDC’s recommendations underscore is that the urine and feces left behind by rodents in your insulation can pose a serious health risk to your family. This health risk persists even after the infestation has been eliminated and you are working to clean up the urine and droppings that the rodents left behind. Smaller amounts of droppings may be removed without requiring all of the insulation to be removed. It is important to have someone who specializes in wildlife and rodent control to take a look at this for you.
The health risks posed by urine, feces, and nesting materials after a rodent infestation is one of the main reasons why it is highly recommended to have professionals remove your attic insulation. Professional removal of contaminated insulation is the most effective way to limit the exposure of you and your family to harmful rodent-borne viruses that remain following an infestation.
In the end I am not a doctor. Always error on the side of caution. These are my opinions on the matter after reading and studying information on the subject. If you feel you have any of the above disease or have come into contact with them consult your doctor.
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