Hantavirus

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) provides information on Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) (HPS), a serious, sometimes fatal, lung disease transmitted by infected wild rodents. To prevent infection, the CDPH advises avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings, airing out enclosed spaces before entering, and wet-cleaning potentially contaminated surfaces with a 10% bleach solution. The CDPH website and their Occupational Health Toolkit offer detailed prevention advice, symptoms to watch for, and resources on reducing exposure. 

What is Hantavirus? 

  • Hantavirus is a virus that humans contract from contact with wild rodents, particularly deer mice, through their urine, saliva, or droppings.
  • The most common way to get infected is by breathing in small particles of the virus after they've been stirred into the air.

Prevention Strategies

  • Avoid Contact: 

Stay away from wild rodents, their droppings, and nesting materials. 

  • Air Out Spaces: 

Before entering an enclosed area that rodents may have infested, open windows and doors and let it air out for at least 30 minutes. 

  • Wet Cleaning: 

Do not dry sweep or vacuum rodent-contaminated areas. Instead, spray the area with a 10% bleach solution or a commercial disinfectant, let it soak for at least 5 minutes, then clean up the wet area with paper towels or a mop. 

  • Rodent Control: 

Seal holes in buildings to prevent rodents from getting inside. Store all food in rodent-proof containers and keep food, trash, and pet food at least 100 feet from your home. 

  • Handwashing: 

Thoroughly wash your hands and clothing after cleaning up rodent contamination. 

Symptoms 

  • Early symptoms of HPS include fever, headache, and muscle aches.
  • The illness progresses rapidly to severe difficulty breathing.

Where to Find More Information: