SkipdirectlytositecontentSkipdirectlytopageoptionsSkipdirectlytoA-ZlinkRelapsingFeverSectionNavigationCDCHomeFacebookTwitterLinkedInSyndicatePreventionMinusRelatedPagesKeeprodents,especiallychipmunksandsquirrels,outofhomesandcabins.WhatcanIdotopreventTBRF?Avoidsleepinginrodent-infestedbuildingswheneverpossible.Althoughrodentnestsmaynotbevisible,otherevidenceofrodentactivity(e.g.,droppings)areasignthatabuildingmaybeinfested.Preventtickbites.UseinsectrepellentcontainingDEET(onskinorclothing)orpermethrin(appliedtoclothingorequipment).Ifyouarerentingacabinandnoticearodentinfestation,contacttheownertoalertthem.Ifyouownacabin,consultalicensedpestcontrolprofessionalwhocansafely:Identifyandremoveanyrodentnestsfromwalls,attics,crawlspaces,andfloors.(Otherdiseasescanbetransmittedbyrodentdroppings—leavethisjobtoaprofessional!)Treat“cracksandcrevices”inthewallswithpesticide.Establishapestcontrolplantokeeprodentsout.PestControlProfessionalsandPublicHealthDepartments:Removerodentsandnests,stoprodentsfromreenteringbuildings,andreduceexposuretoinfectedtickspdficon[PDF–4pages]Whyshouldn'tIremovethenestsmyself?Activitiesthatputyouincontactwithdeermousedroppings,urine,saliva,ornestingmaterialscanplaceyouatriskforinfectionwithHantavirusPulmonarySyndrome(HPS),apotentiallyfatalcondition.Hantavirusisspreadwhenvirus-containingparticlesfromdeermouseurine,droppings,orsalivaarestirredintotheair.Infectionoccurswhenyoubreatheinvirusparticles.Pagelastreviewed:October15,2015Contentsource:CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,CentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionNationalCenterforEmergingandZoonoticInfectiousDiseases(NCEZID),NationalCenterforEmergingandZoonoticInfectiousDiseases(NCEZID)DivisionofVector-BorneDiseases(DVBD)DivisionofVector-BorneDiseases(DVBD)homeTick-borneRelapsingFeverHomePreventionDistributionTransmissionSymptomsCliniciansLouse-borneRelapsingFeverBorreliamiyamotoiDiseaseAdditionalResourcesFacebookTwitterLinkedInSASstatsExitNotification/DisclaimerPolicyCloseLinkswiththisiconindica