Could someone set my (& my housemate's) mind at ease?

[RatsDrawBlood]

About to get friend for our rat (so that this can be her forever home) when I saw on this forum:
"My 10 year old daughter contracted streptobacillus moniliformis (rat bite fever) from her rat's sneeze! My daughter almost died. Although rats are very sweet, most carry this deadly bacteria."

 

[Fidget]

I don't know much about it (except it's very rare in domestic rats). found this when i google it https://www.amcny.org/blog/2014/04/16/rat-bite-fever-and-pet-rats-how-concerned-should-we-be .

 

[SQ]

It is extremely rare, so rare that no one ever worries about it
and when people get ill, regardless of the cause they need to get medical attention

Edit: The link Fidget provided looks good. It provides a few suggestions, such as washing hands after handling pets.
There are a couple of diseases people can catch from rats but this is extremely rare, and people are fine if they receive medical care (usually antibiotics).

 

[jorats]

Yeah, very rare. I once brought it up to my vet and she told me she's never heard of it happening in our area.

 

[RatsDrawBlood]

washing hands after handling pets

I'd been meaning to ask about that too - do you all actually do that? I'm thinking of the time lost to a gazillion washings per day and destroying my skin! Maybe just for the immune-compromised/children/situations of known or suspected illness, etc?

 

[oasisandbambi]

Actually I think that even if a rat does have rat fever she will usually die way before a person even starts showing signs of illness.

 

[RatsDrawBlood]

she will usually die

Oh. That's the worst good news ever.

 

[oasisandbambi]

Oh. That's the worst good news ever.

Hope your mind is at ease tho ahaha