Seattle Times Confirms Rare Mouse-Carried Disease in Area

The Seattle-King County Health Department has a page devoted to providing information on Hantavirus "carried by some rodents in King county, including deer mice."  Click Here 
Seattle Times Story

The Public Health Insider states, "Two cases of Hantavirus reportd in King county since December, 2016: Be aware of health risks associated with deer mouse infestations."

While the disease does not spread from person to person it can be picked up, usually inhaled, in dust or mist particles where mouse droppings or urine are present.  The problem is that urine is fairly invisible without a blacklight detector and even the droppings are often wide spread.  

Mice are so small and agile that they often occur in garages, crawlspaces beneath flooring and attics.  Sometimes they do get into our living spaces such as bedrooms and kitchens as well.

Mice can climb and squeeze almost anywhere.  Unlike rats, which urinate more or less at designated locations, mice "dribble" as they go potentially leaving many spots that could be contaminated with hantavirus.

KOMO news reported that this was the first case of hantavirus in King county in 14 years.  This shows how rare a disease this is,  Cascade Pest Control originally began preparing for an outbreak of hantavirus in 1993 when a number of people died in the four-corner region of the southwest United States.  As it turned out few cases ever occurred in Washington state and it appeared that eastern Washington, with all it's drier land and deer mouse population would have most cases when they did show up.  Cases of hantavirus in King county are rare and health officials are cautious now that two cases have occurred within months and within a local proximity.

The Washington State Department of health has a link for pest disease prevention-hantavirus.
Among their precautions listed are:

Keep rodents out of your home and workplace. Always take precautions when cleaning, sealing and trapping rodent-infested areas.

Seal up cracks and gaps in buildings that are larger than 1/4 inch including window and door sills, under sinks around the pipes, in foundations, attics and any rodent entry hole.

Trap indoor rats and mice with snap traps.

Remove rodent food sources. Keep food (including pet food) in rodent proof containers.

Clean up rodent infested areas:

• Wear rubber, latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves.
• Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other means.
• Thoroughly wet contaminated areas including trapped mice, droppings, and nests with a 10% hypochlorite (bleach) solution: Mix 1½ cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water (or 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Once everything is soaked for 10 minutes, remove all of the nest material, mice or droppings with damp towel and then mop or sponge the area with bleach solution.
• Steam clean or shampoo upholstered furniture and carpets with evidence of rodent exposure.
• Spray dead rodents with disinfectant and then double-bag along with all cleaning materials. Bury, burn, or throw out rodent in appropriate waste disposal system.
• Disinfect gloves with disinfectant or soap and water before taking them off.
• After taking off the clean gloves, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water (or use a waterless alcohol-based hand rub when soap is not available).

For more information on mice, mouse biology and control, mouse prevention, mouse-proofing, mouse-filth cleanup.

Cascade Pest Control has provided mouse and rodent control since 1979.
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Hantavirus hits King county's Eastside, greater Seattle.

HANTAVIRUS HITS King County's Eastside, greater Seattle. One dead in Issaquah and another hospitalized from Redmond, Washington from mouse-carried hantavirous disease.

Seattle has quickly gained prominence with it's very high Rat population--greatly due to the moderate climate as well as a growing population that has filled rural areas with homes and tied all cities together.  Now we have news from the outlying areas where mice are more prominent. 

Cascade technicians have long known that rats are predominant in the city and suburban areas, however, wherever neighborhoods abut natural areas mice are more common.  Along homes that skirt rural and wilderness areas mice are rampant. But finding the killer strain of hantavirus in Washington is new, and a particular concern located this close to a major metropolitan area. 

In the past hantavirus outbreaks that resulted in deaths most often occurred in rural areas or small towns. Hantavirus is can be deadly and is spread by various types of wild mice, often known as "field mice" or "dear mice." 

---- CAll Cascade today at 1(989)989-8979 ----
Cascade is ready to provide mouse and rodent inspections, control and protection ----
Original Article Q13FOX
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Automobiles get Trashed by Rodents in Redmond, WA

This engine compartment was trashed by rodents. The cleaning work will be considerable, but the damage to hoses, belts and wiring could cost a lot more $$$$!. "This is the engine bay/ mouse motel of a 1961 Olds Super 88. This was my great grand dad's car, and has been sitting in a barn since 1977. I just recently purchased it from my late grand dad's estate. Now I am making plans to get it to my house to bring it back to a road worthy condition, with no mouse nest!" Thanks to Brent in Redmond Washington for the story. Cascade provides rodent and pest control for the Redmond, Kirkland and Greater Eastside area. For more information about Cascade and rodent control see For pest control in Redmond For Pest control in Kirkland

Rat Infest Autos in Puget Sound Area

Auto mechanics all over the Puget Sound Region are finding a huge increase in damage due to rodents. They chew through wiring and other electronic harnesses, hoses and upholstery resulting in hundreds to thousands of dollars in damage. This photo was shared by Gary Garvin and shows a dead rat stuck under a Honda. Cascade provides rat and rodent control in the Greater Seattle area, including the Eastside (Kirkland, etc) and Everett. Cascade also provides rat/rodent control in Oak Harbor, WA. For more information see

Seattle Overrun with Rats near Lake Union

Rats "take over" a Seattle street!

USA Today published this video article from September 2015, showing an area of South Lake Union in Seattle that is overrun with rats. The nearby construction in the area has displaced a large population of rats, and they are literally running all over the hillside looking for food.

This is not uncommon in the Puget Sound area, as rats are native to the area and have plenty of harborage, water sources, and food. Some municipalities however, such as Kirkland and Shoreline, require a pre-demolition rodent abatement program to reduce/eliminate the rat populations before a demolition permit will be allowed.

Rat Found in Toilet - Redmond (Greater Seattle) Good Job Girl's!!!

Thank you Gil for bringing in this video taken by some gals--roommates--in the Redmond area, a suburb of Seattle. Yes, rats do come up from the sewer. And, yes, rats do come right up into our toilets where we might be about to sit! Cascade Pest Control provides rat control in Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue, Everett and beyond. Call Cascade for your serious rat and rodent pest control needs. 1-888-989-8979 Cascade Pest Control

Seattle Rat not to be left behind has his own Pizza!!!!!

After all the commotion about the puny New York rat carrying off a slice of pizza our own home town 'Seattle Rat' made his statement by stealing and eating some pizza. As you can hear there are dogs barking and police sirens going off as this footage shows. Call Cascade for your serious rat and rodent pest control needs. 1-888-989-8979 Cascade Pest Control