Saskatchewan residents are reminded to take precautions against hantavirus, as the weather continues to warm up and they resume seasonal activities.
People are most often exposed to hantavirus by breathing contaminated airborne particles from the dropping, urin and saliva of infected deer mice. Hantavirus infection is rare but potentially fatal. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, coughing, headaches, nausea and vomiting.
“Initial symptoms can quickly develop into a very severe and often fatal lung disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome,” said Saqib Shajab, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer. “Seek urgent medical attention if you develop a fever, courghing and shortness of breath within one to six weeks of exposure to potentially infested areas.”
People can come in contact with hantavirus when cleaning out enclosed or poorly ventilated buildings such as grain bins, sheds, barns, garages, trailers, cottages and homes that have had mouse infestations. Exposure can also occur when cleaning farm equipment such as combines or vehicles that have been in storage.
“It is important to take adequate precautions to avoid the risk of becoming infected,” Sahab said.
When cleaning rodent-infested areas people should ventilate the building by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before cleaning; use wet mopping methods and wear rubber or plastic gloves as well as goggles and well-fitting N-95 type filter masks when cleaning areas contaminated by dropping in a confined space.
Health care experts said the contaminated area should be dampened using bleach disinfectant and remove droppings with a damp mop or cloth and avoid dry cleaning methods such as dusting, sweeping, vacuuming or air hosing.
It is also advised to use steam clean, shampoo or spray upholstered furniture with a detergent, disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water and wash clothes and bedding with detergent in hot water.
A person can also reduce exposure to hantavirus by blocking opening that might allow rodents to enter a building, store human and animal food, water and garbage in containers with tightly fitted lids, and move woodpiles or other potential hiding and nesting places for mice away from the home.
There have been 30 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome reported in Saskatchewan in the past 20 years, 10 of which, resulted in death.
