Quick answer
Wash exposed skin with soap and water, do not eat contaminated food, clean the area safely with disinfectant, avoid sweeping dry droppings, and seek medical care if you develop fever or severe symptoms.
If you already feel unwell, do not wait for online certainty. Speak with a qualified health worker.
If a rat touched food
Do not eat food that may have been contaminated by rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or gnaw marks. Clean the storage area and improve food sealing before replacing items.
If you touched droppings or urine
Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly. If there was a cut, broken skin, or splash to eyes or mouth, seek medical advice, especially if symptoms develop.
Symptoms to take seriously
- Fever, chills, severe weakness, headache, or muscle aches.
- Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, or sore throat.
- Breathing difficulty, bleeding, confusion, fainting, or severe illness.
Related: Clean rodent droppings safely, Rat urine disease, Lassa fever explained.
Official sources
CDC rodent cleanup, CDC leptospirosis, and NCDC Lassa fever.