From , five New York State residents were diagnosed with hantavirus infection. Hantavirus is spread from wild rodents, particularly mice and rats, to people. The virus, which is found in rodent urine, saliva, and feces poop , can be easily released in the air in confined spaces when disturbed by rodents or human activities, such as sweeping or vacuuming.
Breathing in the virus is the most common way of getting infected; however, people can also become infected by touching their mouth or nose after handling contaminated materials. While rare, a rodent's bite can also spread the virus.
The types of hantavirus found in the U. Most often symptoms occur days after the virus enters the body, but symptoms can appear as early as one week or as late as eight weeks. Early symptoms are general and include fever, fatigue, and muscle pain. As the illness progresses, the main symptom of hantavirus infection is difficulty in breathing, which is caused by fluid build-up in the lungs, and which quickly progresses to an inability to breathe.
Infected people sometimes die of respiratory failure or shock. Mild illnesses not requiring hospitalization also have been reported. Early diagnosis can be challenging since initial symptoms can be vague.
It is important to talk to health care providers about possible exposure to rats or mice or their droppings. If a person reports history of rodent exposure and is experiencing fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath, a physician may draw blood to test for hantavirus infection. There is no specific treatment, cure, or vaccine for hantavirus disease. Early supportive treatment of patients with hantavirus disease can improve survival. If there is a high degree of suspicion of hantavirus disease, patients should be immediately transferred to an emergency department or intensive care unit for close monitoring and care.
Rapid diagnosis and supportive treatment have increase the chance of survival. Avoid contact with rodent droppings or urine. Avoid touching live or dead rodents. Do not disturb rodents, burrows or nests. The New York State Department of Health has created guidance on mice and rat control in the home and community. To reduce exposure to hantavirus around the home, prevent or eliminate rodent infestations.
Search all fact sheets: Search. Type a word, a phrase, or ask a question. Cases of Hantavirus infection contracted in Canada and the United States have been associated with these activities: Sweeping out a barn and other ranch buildings. Trapping and studying mice. Using compressed air and dry sweeping to clean up wood waste in a sawmill. Handling grain contaminated with mouse droppings and urine. Entering a barn infested with mice. Planting or harvesting field crops. Occupying previously vacant dwellings.
Disturbing rodent-infested areas while hiking or camping. Living in dwellings with a sizable indoor rodent population. Attempt to reduce the presence of mice and limit contact with their droppings, urine and saliva by: Storing food including pet food , water and garbage in heavy plastic or metal containers with tight fitting lids.
Sealing any holes in structures where mice may enter. Cutting back thick brush and keep grass short. Keep woodpiles away from the building. Using rubber or plastic gloves when cleaning up signs of rodents, handling dead rodents, or other materials. When finished, clean gloves with soapy water before taking them off. Wash hands with soapy water again after removing the gloves. Setting traps when necessary. Put rodents in a plastic bag, seal the bag, and dispose.
Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water after removing the gloves. Public Health Agency of Canada Hantavirus.
Aerosolization occurs when a virus is kicked up into the air, making it easy for you to inhale. For example, a broom used to clean up mouse droppings in an attic may nudge into the air tiny particles of feces containing hantaviruses, which you can then easily inhale. After you inhale hantaviruses, they reach your lungs and begin to invade tiny blood vessels called capillaries, eventually causing them to leak.
Your lungs then flood with fluid, which can trigger any of the respiratory problems associated with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. People who become infected with the North American strain of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome aren't contagious to other people.
However, certain outbreaks in South America have shown evidence of being transmitted from person to person, which illustrates variation across strains in different regions. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is most common in rural areas of the western United States during the spring and summer months. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome also occurs in South America and Canada.
Other hantaviruses occur in Asia, where they cause kidney disorders rather than lung problems. The chance of developing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is greater for people who work, live or play in spaces where rodents live. Factors and activities that increase the risk include:. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can quickly become life-threatening.
As the lungs fill with fluid, breathing becomes more and more difficult. Blood pressure drops and organs begin to fail, particularly the heart.
Keeping rodents out of your home and workplace can help reduce your risk of hantavirus infection. Try these tips:. Wet down dead rodents and areas where rodents have been with alcohol, household disinfectants or bleach. This kills the virus and helps prevent infected dust from being stirred up into the air. Once everything is wet, use a damp towel to pick up the contaminated material. Then mop or sponge the area with disinfectant.
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