Nobody wants to have to deal with an infestation of rats or mice in their home, but if faced with the situation it is imperative that it is dealt with urgently. It will not go away, it will only get worse. Rodents carry all manner of germs and spread disease, as well as causing serious damage to your property. You don't have to come into close contact to be at risk

Disease can be spread via fleas and ticks and through the transmission of pathogens on their bodies, fur and feet. Most commonly, people become infected by coming into contact with their faeces or urine. You may not even realise you are being exposed, as excretions may well dry up before you are aware of them. The rodents themselves do not create the diseases they carry.

They are simply a product of the environment in which they live. Common diseases spread by rodents as they move between contaminated environments and increasingly come into contact with humans are:

• Weil's Disease (Leptospirosis) Shed in the urine of infected rats, the bacterium requires a wet environment to survive and is usually transmitted by contact with rat urine, contaminated water or soil. The excreted organism enters the body via cuts and abrasions or through the mucous membrane of the nose and mouth. There has recently been a rise in the number of cases amongst those involved in recreational water activities. Symptoms range from mild flu-like symptoms to jaundice, renal failure and death.

• Salmonellosis Ranks as one of the most widespread animal borne diseases. Human infection most commonly results from the contamination of food and drink with rodent excreta. Salmonellosis is a type of food poisoning and symptoms include acute gastro-enteritis accompanied by headache, fever and vomiting.

• Plague Yes, you read that right! Caused by a bacterium transmitted to humans via the rat flea. No cases have been recorded in Britain since the early 1900s but it is found in South-western USA, South America, South Africa and parts of Russia. As such, it remains a potential hazard and great care is taken at airports and ports to prevent wild rodents being introduced to the country.

• Lyme Disease A bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks, tiny arachnids found in woodland areas that feed on the blood of mammals. Tick bites often go unnoticed and can remain feeding for several days before dropping off. The most common symptom is a red or pink circular rash around the bite. You may experience tiredness, headaches and muscle or joint pain. If left untreated, further symptoms may develop months or years later such as muscle pain, swelling and pain in the joints and neurological symptoms such as temporary facial paralysis.

• Other diseases include rat-bite fevers, tetanus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis and murine typhus. Parasites carried by rodents include ringworm, mites, nematodes, tapeworms, ticks and fleas

• As well as spreading disease, rodents cause a lot of damage to property, infrastructure and can cause electrical fires. Rodents gnaw to exploit their environment and can penetrate all types of wood as well as soft metals such as aluminium and lead. Norway rats can exert a pressure of 500kg/cm squared (7,000 psi) and produce six bites per second. These animals will gnaw through walls and flooring, as well as the more structural elements of a building.

• Norway Rats can undermine foundations by their excavations and damage drains and sewers as they burrow between joints in the surrounding earth. This can lead to the collapse of roadways and pavements. Almost anything can be gnawed and ermin munching through wires can create a serious fire hazard, as well as sudden power outages.