Advice please?

Question
Hi, how are you?

Just wanted to ask one question...

My sister is having a newborn baby next month on the 19th and i currently have a pet rat named Bella, shes 1 year old now and i have had her for 7 months, we are very close and affectionate to each other, i love her very much! i spend so much time with her everyday that when i need to put her back in the cage she runs up my arm, and it's hard not to be with her for just a little more. I have a very close bond with her, she is the best pet in the world, but i prefer calling her family :)   

my parents are apprehensive on having a rat around when the baby is born because i guess newborn's have no immune system... but as long as i clean the cage often and make sure the baby doesn't touch it  and as long as i clean the hair off or change my clothing, wash my hands, etc... it should be fine right?  I mean rats are very clean animals, Bella cleans herself like every 2 minutes or less. I really don't want to have to give her up and i refuse to, just because a newborn is the new addition to the family and honestly, i don't think there is a problem as long as I'm cautious... right?

Answer
http://ratprincess.homestead.com/lukkas.html

Check out the photo  above.   I dont think there is anything more to say after you see the picture......

I promise, there is nothing that the rat can harbor that can make a new baby or any human ill, esp if there is no contact.  Common sense of course tells you to wash your hands after handling ANY animal, rat, cat, dog, horse...you dont have to go nuts cleaning and scrubbing yourself. There are no pathogens that you will carry from rat to new baby.

  But really, check the link above and the photo and tell me what you think. :)