Rats & human colds

Question
Hi - I just wondered if I should avoid my rats if I have a cold - I've read conflicting things in books regarding this, so am a little confused.
Many thanks
Ash

Answer
Hi ASh

I will give you the truth and the truth is that there are at least 200 viruses that cause the common cold and not one of these viruses cross over from humans to rodents.
Some of this non professional websites get a bit confused between the ferret and the rat because ferrets can catch the common cold, rats cannot.
However, it is just common sense to wash up before handling  your rats and after, no mater if you have a cold or not just simply to avoid carrying anything that you may have come in to contact with from their feces or  urine.
Here are a few things to keep in mind with rats and germs so if anyone tells you different, you have the accurate information now.
Rabies: rats are not natural carriers of rabies and in fact there has never be en a documented case in the United States where rats have bitten and transmitted rabies to a human being. This is usually due to the fact rats are so small if they are attacked by a wild animal they die from the injuries first so if the animal that attacked the rat is rabid the rat would die before the disease had a chance to even incubate.

Strep throat: Rats absolutely do NOT catch strep throat from humans. Again, non professional sites make this claim getting the strep bacteria confused with another strep bacteria that causes strep pneumonia in rats. They are different pathogens and the strain of strep that causes strep throat is one strain that rats are immune to. So this is a myth as well.

Lice: Rat lice are species specific and are wingless and not the same lice that humans get. We are safe!

What we CAN give our rats or get from our rats is RINGWORM which is not a real worm of course, but a fungus, like athletes foot except it causes the skin rash that has a circle as if a red worm was under the skin. It is contagious but can be easily treated with over the counter anti fungal.

Thats about all that comes to mind right now so hopefully this makes you feel better. I don't know if you are sick with a cold right now and if you are, I hope you feel better!

Thanks for writing!

PS Forgive my typing! This keyboard has just ben beaten on its last leg and the key are sticking big time. I keep doing spell check and cant believe the errors. I cant do a back space or hit the key more than once if the word has double letters so if I missed a word, forgive me!