USDA Confirms Bird Flu in Rats

What It Means for Your Property and Why Rodent Control Is Now More Critical Than Ever

In a significant development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) — also known as bird flu — in rats tested in Riverside County, California. This marks a serious public health concern, further reinforcing the importance of professional rodent control and strict sanitation practices for property owners, managers, and commercial facilities.

At Bugmarx, we want to ensure our clients understand what this means — and how an effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program can protect your residents, tenants, and staff from rodent-borne diseases.

Rodents Are a Serious Health Threat — and Always Have Been

Rats aren’t new — they’ve lived alongside humans for centuries, infesting cities, farms, factories, and homes. Known for their gnawing habits, rats must constantly sharpen their teeth, which never stop growing. This behavior drives them to chew through:

Electrical wires
Wood framing
Plastic piping
Insulation
Food storage containers

This not only causes costly damage, but also presents serious fire and flood hazards.

Now, with the detection of bird flu in rats, the risk goes beyond physical damage — it’s about health and containment.

What Diseases Do Rats Carry?

Rats are known vectors for over 35 diseases, many of which are transmittable to humans either directly (through bites or exposure to droppings) or indirectly (via fleas, ticks, and mites). These include:

Hantavirus
Leptospirosis
Salmonellosis
Rat-bite fever
Plague
Tularemia
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV)
Now: Avian Influenza (HPAI)

This makes rodent activity a serious public health issue, especially in multi-unit housing, food-related businesses, senior living facilities, and offices.

Why Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Matters

At Bugmarx, we take a proactive approach to rodent control through IPM strategies that combine:

Prevention and exclusion
Sanitation and monitoring
Safe and targeted treatment methods

Here’s what that means for your property:

Exclusion: Stop Them Before They Get In

Rats can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter. That’s why sealing entry points is one of the most effective ways to prevent infestations.

Key exclusion tactics include:

Sealing cracks in exterior walls, foundations, and utility penetrations
Repairing and weatherproofing front and back doors to ensure tight seals
Installing chimney caps and repairing damaged vent screens
Reinforcing window frames and replacing torn screens
Using rodent-resistant materials when caulking or sealing — rats can chew through foam, rubber, and even some soft metals

Sanitation: Eliminate the Attraction

Rats are opportunistic feeders and thrive in unclean environments. Properties with poor sanitation become hotspots.

Sanitation recommendations:

Regularly clean and secure trash areas — bins should be tightly lidded, leak-proof, and emptied frequently
Eliminate food sources inside and outside
Clean up clutter and remove debris from around buildings
Ensure no standing water is left in or around the structure

A clean environment helps break the cycle of attraction and infestation.

How This Affects You

If you manage a commercial property, apartment complex, office space, or senior housing community, the USDA’s bird flu findings are a reminder that rodent control is more than pest management — it’s public health protection.

With the possibility of new pathogens like avian influenza being spread by rodents, now is the time to act. Whether you’re in Westland, Canton, West Bloomfield, Novi, Bingham Farms, or Livonia, our team is ready to help you implement a full rodent protection plan.

Final Thoughts

Rodents aren’t just a nuisance — they’re a direct threat to your staff, tenants, and bottom line. With diseases like HPAI now confirmed in rats, you can’t afford to overlook prevention.

Now is the time to reinforce your building, upgrade your sanitation protocol, and schedule a full rodent inspection.

Let Bugmarx help you protect your property from the ground up.

Contact your Bugmarx representative today by calling 734-848-7505 or visit www.bugmarx.com to schedule a property inspection.