Exposure to rats and mice, Freaking out!

[cushionstar]

Im due a c section in a week as jn 38 weeks pregnant. A few months me and DH noticed found we had a rat/mouse problem and put down traps etc in our kitchen.
I was deep cleaning back of a kitchen cupboard today and realised there were lots of mice and rat droppings at the back of the cupboard.

I did not touch anything then and did not vacuum or clean anything up. I just let my dh handle it. I shouldn't have but I googled That I could have been exposed to lcmv infection and hantavirus and caused issues in my pregnancy!
I'm just freaking out!
We have been preparing and eating food in this kitchen for months! Has anyone else been exposed whilst pregnant or done anything like this ! Thanks

i've had a similar situation just yesterday, only 5 weeks pregnant though, and was googling and came across your post! i ate a rice cracker which after eating, i realised had been part nibbled by a mouse (!), and then realised there were droppings all over the bottom of the cupboard, so was so sure i could have picked something up! spoke to my GP today and they really put my mind at rest - said that highly unlikely to get sick as so many people have mice in the house and not to worry. Hantavirus has apparently also only been connected with illness in people who have pet rats in the UK and only caused about 11 cases in last 10 years, and LCMV has only caused congenital issues in 1 person in UK since 1958 - so very very unlikely! hope that helps - totally understand your panic as i was a state yesterday

Did your doctor talk about having a test for lcmv?

Also Thankyou for your kind words, I suffer bad health anxiety and literally been out my mind !
My gp and midwife didn't even know what a lcmv test was for ! Xx

There’s something called weils disease from mouse urine but they need to have actually peed on things and it needs to be relatively fresh. You can get a blood test for this which might put your mind at rest. It’s not likely that likely op.

@Calliopespa hi yes I spoke to my go and she said she hadn't heard of the test before but booked me for a blood test for CMV when I checked it's for a virus thts carried by kids and not rodents. So my midwife said to explain this at the hospital tomorrow and ask them to speak to a doctor and see if they can carry out it.
I'm 37 weeks and all my scans have showed nothing that would indicate anything wrong with my baby but I'm a massive sufferer of health anxiety and been beside myself with worry x

No they didn't mention doing a test for that, but I have had a look and think I will ask for one just to put my mind at rest if they are able to do one. Yeah I saw stuff online about CMV, but thats something different and more common which is maybe why they thought to send you for that (but that cant be spread by rodents). I have health anxiety too and have honestly spent about 10 hours reading so much stuff online about mice infestations, and have come to the conclusion that it is a very low chance of getting anything - almost everyone i know has mice in their homes so probably unwittingly eat/ breath in mouse droppings/ urine etc. all the time, and since theres only been around 100 cases globally of LCMV globally in 70 years it would have to be serious bad luck to get it. i know its so hard when you have health anxiety, i've been in a panic for days, but think the chances are so low so try not to think about it too much (i know a lot easier said than done!)

@loulou44 thanks for your reply. I went for my last scan today at 38 weeks and then had a very good chat with my consultant. She basically looked at me and you need to stop ✋🏻 googling and asking for tests etc me she said we do not even screen for this as the midwife doctor and consultant do not even know the test for it! She said you will be fine and your baby will be fine. I just 😭😭😭 she set my mind so at rest. I did however gut my kitchen I had cleaners in to declutter and clean & I threw out everything and I mean every single food item every single cup and cutlery etc.
I have now bare cupboards but this is health anxiety and it's cost me and my partner £££
But It's cleaned and bleached and I've had to buy new pans and cutlery etc makes me feel better as crazy as it is!

And my family and friends think I'm nuts but this is how I cope! Thankyou for your post too! When is your first scan ? Xx