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Hantavirus Information
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome usually begins with
flu-like symptoms, and may rapidly progress to respiratory failure when the
lungs fill with fluid. Patients usually develop breathing difficulty
approximately two to six days after onset of symptoms.
Heavy rains from last year led to an increase in populations of wild mice that
carry hantavirus. House mice and roof rats are not known to carry the
disease. Hantavirus can occur wherever the deer mouse and its close
relatives live, which includes most rural areas throughout the state.
There are important preventive measures
individuals can take to reduce the risk of contracting the disease:
 | When rodent droppings or nests are found in
and around the home, spray them generously with a household disinfectant and
allow them to soak for at least 15 minutes. Use disinfectants that kill
viruses, such as Lysol®, or a solution of one-part household bleach mixed
with nine parts water.
| After disinfecting, wear rubber gloves and
clean up the droppings with disposable materials such as paper towels, rags
or mops.
| Seal all materials, droppings or nests in
double plastic bags and dispose of them in the trash.
| Do not clean the droppings or nests by
sweeping, brushing or vacuuming, since these methods stir up dust and
increase a person's chances of inhaling the virus. |
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Rodent-proof your home:
| Prevent rodents from entering the home by
plugging or sealing all holes and gaps to the outside greater than 1/4-inch
in diameter. Use steel wool, thick wire screen, metal flashing or cement to
seal holes.
| Eliminate or reduce rodent shelter around the
home by removing outdoor junk and clutter, and by moving woodpiles, lumber,
hay bales etc., as far away from the house as possible.
| Keep the lawn trimmed and free of excess weeds
and brush.
| Do not make food easily available to rodents.
Do not leave pet food in dishes. Dispose of garbage in trash cans with
tight-fitting lids.
| Wash dirty dishes promptly, and clean up
spilled food immediately. Store bulk grains and animal feed in rodent-proof
containers. |
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Rodent control:
| Control rodents inside the home by placing
spring-loaded "snap" traps in areas where rodents and their
droppings have been observed. Bait the traps with peanut butter and/or oats
and check them regularly. When rodents are caught, spray the dead rodents
with a disinfectant, such as Lysol or bleach and water, then wait at least
15 minutes. Put on rubber gloves and then seal the dead rodents in plastic
bags before disposing of them in a trash can. The snap traps can be
disinfected and re-used.
| In areas above 4,500 feet in elevation, any
dead rodents and rodent nests should be sprayed with a pesticide to kill
fleas before disinfecting or disposing the carcasses. This is to prevent
flea bites and possible exposure to another disease, the plague. |
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For more information about HPS:
click here
for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or,
contact the
Arizona Department of Health Services Vector Borne Disease Program at (602)
364-4562
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