Hanta virus can cause serious health issues

“Although hantavirus is rare, it can be deadly,” says Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny. “By taking a few simple steps, people can protect themselves from being exposed.”

Hantavirus is spread by deer mice that carry the virus in their urine, saliva, and droppings. A person may be exposed to hantavirus by breathing in contaminated dust after disturbing or cleaning rodent droppings or nests, or by living or working in rodent-infested settings.

Each year, usually one to three people in our state become sick with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and about one-third of those who get it die. In 2012, two people in Grant County developed the disease and both of them died. Hantavirus occurs throughout the state; however, the illness is more common in eastern Washington because more people live in rural settings where deer mice also thrive.

Early symptoms of hantavirus include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. Some people may also experience chills, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. The illness progresses within a few days to shortness of breath, then to very serious respiratory distress requiring hospitalization. There’s no vaccine, specific treatment, or cure for the illness.

To help protect yourself and your family from hantavirus, follow these steps:

n Keep rodents out of your home, garage, and other buildings.

n Avoid activities such as sweeping and vacuuming that can stir-up dust in areas where rodents have been.

n•Open windows and doors in small buildings such as sheds and chicken coops to allow the building to “air out” for several hours before entering.

n•Use personal protection equipment such as gloves and a surgical mask when cleaning rodent infested areas.

n•Spray 10 percent household bleach solution on rodent-contaminated areas and allow it to soak in for at least 10 minutes before carefully wiping up and disposing of the mess.

For more information, contact the Grant County Health District at (509) 754-6060.