Dust in rodent droppings can carry hantavirus
Salt Lake City, UT—’Tis the season for spring cleaning and Utah public health officials want to remind everyone to pay close attention when you clean sheds, cabins, and other buildings where mice and other rodents might be. Stirring up dust where rodents have been can cause hantavirus to get into the air where the particles can be breathed in.
Hantavirus infection is a virus transmitted by infected rodents through fresh urine, droppings, or saliva. The main way the virus spreads to people is when they breathe in the air contaminated with the virus. You can also get it if you touch your nose or mouth after you handle contaminated material. Other transmissions can include an infected rodent bite, touching objects, or eating food contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva from an infected rodent.
Kacy Nowak, Utah Department of Health and Human Services epidemiologist says, “Anyone who comes into contact with rodents that carry the virus is at risk. Make sure you take precautions when you work in areas with potential rodent droppings and nests. Use a disinfectant spray on areas with droppings and wait 15-20 minutes before you clean. This will kill the virus and decrease your risk.” Potential risky activities include: opening and cleaning previously unused buildings, house cleaning activities, work-related exposures, camping, and hiking.
Early symptoms of hantavirus infection include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups. Headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal problems (like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and pain) may also be present. Four to 10 days after the first phase of the illness, a sick person will experience coughing and shortness of breath as the lungs fill with fluid.
Although rare, hantavirus is fatal in about 60% of cases reported. Anyone who experiences early symptoms such as fatigue, fever, muscle aches, and shortness of breath and has a history of rodent exposure should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
Follow these important steps to prevent hantavirus:
- Air out closed-up buildings before you go in
- Trap mice until they are all gone
- Use a disinfectant when you clean up nests and droppings
- Don’t sweep up rodent droppings into the air where they can be inhaled
- Put hay, wood, and compost piles as far as possible from your home
- Get rid of trash and junk piles
- Don’t leave your pet’s food and water where mice can get to it
- Seal up holes inside and outside your home to prevent new rodent infestations.
To properly clean up after rodents:
- Wear rubber or plastic gloves.
- Spray urine, droppings, and/or nests with bleach solution or an EPA-registered disinfectant until very wet. Let it soak for 5 minutes or according to instructions on the disinfectant label.
- Use paper towels to wipe up the urine or droppings and the cleaning product.
- Throw the paper towels in a covered garbage can that is regularly emptied.
- Mop or sponge the area with a disinfectant. Clean all hard surfaces including floors, countertops, cabinets, and drawers.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water after you take off your gloves.
For more information, go to: http://epi.health.utah.gov/epi/diseases/hantavirus/.