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How to Protect Yourself from Hantavirus
Hantavirus infection is a serious, life-threatening illness caused by inhaling the virus. The virus is carried in the airborne particles of rodent urine, droppings or saliva.
 The primary carrier of Hantavirus is the deer mouse. It is 10 to 22 cm. in length from head to tail, ranges in color from pale gray to reddish brown, and has white fur on its belly, feet and underside of the tail. However, all rodents including squirrels, rats, chipmunks and other kinds of mice should be treated as if they might carry the virus.
Who is at risk?
- People living in or visiting houses, cottages or camps where rodents are living or have been.
- Campers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts visiting areas with rodents.
- Individuals who clean barns, sheds/outbuildings or other grain storage areas where rodents are likely to live.
- Electricians, plumbers or others who work in crawl spaces.
- Pest control workers, wildlife researchers or other persons who handle wild rodents.
Symptoms
If you have Hantavirus infection, you may initially feel like you have the flu. If you fall in one of the risk categories and develop difficulty breathing in addition to having flu-like symptoms such as fever (38 to 40°C), body aches and/or chills, contact your doctor or your local medical facility as soon as possible, especially if the breathing trouble came on fairly quickly (within a few hours) and is getting worse.
Know the symptoms of Hantavirus infection. Make sure that you inform your doctor of your possible exposure to rodents, particularly if you develop a breathing illness and fever within 45 days of your last exposure to rodents.
Ways to Protect Yourself From Hantavirus
The best protection against the virus is to prevent all rodents from entering your home and to carefully clean and disinfect where rodents have been. Since the virus is carried by airborne particles, it is important, while cleaning, to carefully follow the recommendations made under section number 5. Make your home and outbuildings less attractive to rodents by closing off access to food, water and shelter.
- Keep Clean So As Not To Attract Rodents
Wash dishes and clean up any spilled food immediately after eating. Store all food, water and garbage in metal or thick plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Do not leave pet food or water out overnight.
- Prevent Entry of Rodents:
Small rodents, such as deer mice, can enter buildings through a hole the size of a shirt button. Use steel wool or cement to seal, screen or cover all holes in your house, cottage or camp. To keep rodents from digging, place 8 cm. of gravel around the base of buildings and trailers. Enclose the foundations of wooden homes with metal roof flashing buried 15 cm. deep and rising 30 cm. above the ground. When building new homes, barns and sheds, build with raised cement foundations.
- Discourage Rodents From Living Close To Your Home or Camp:
Cut grass and trim brush around your home, preferably within 30 metres of the house. Keep woodpiles, gardens and trash cans, with tight-fitting lids, as far from the building as possible, preferably 30 metres. Put woodpiles, hay and trash cans at least 30 cm. off the ground. Keep animal feed in rodent-proof containers. Haul away junk cars and old tires. Tear down abandoned buildings. Do not discourage predators such as owls, hawks and non-venomous snakes from living on your property
- Eliminate Rodents:
 Place traps at places where rodents might live. Bait traps with peanut butter and trap until no more rodents are caught for two or three days. Thoroughly soak traps and dead rodents with disinfectant for a minimum of 5 minutes before handling. Use rubber gloves or plastic bags to carefully remove captured rodents. Place dead rodents in a plastic bag and seal the bag. Then place in another plastic bag and seal again. Dispose of bag by burning or burying in a hole that is at least one metre deep. If you have regular trash pick-up, dispose of sealed bags in a garbage can with tight-fitting lids.
- Carefully Clean Up Areas Where Rodents Have Been:
Open doors and windows before cleaning, if possible. When cleaning areas where rodents have been, always wear rubber gloves, as well as clothing and footwear (e.g., coveralls and rubber boots) that can be disinfected (or disposable coveralls that can be discarded), wear a HEPA filter mask and protective eyewear (goggles). Always liberally spray disinfectant on dead rodents, droppings, rodent nests and areas where rodents have been and leave for at least five minutes before cleaning. Always sweep up - never vacuum up droppings.
A 1:10 dilution of common household bleach and water (e.g., 250 ml. bleach to 2.5 litres of water) can be used to disinfectant traps, dead rodents, droppings, floors and other surfaces. Mixing bleach and detergent is not recommended because it can cause production of harmful vapors.
Special cleaning instructions are as follows:
Floors
To minimize dust that may carry the virus, do not vacuum or sweep bare floors before mopping. Mop floors, preferably twice, with a disinfectant. Spray dirt floors with a disinfectant solution. Commercially steam-clean or shampoo carpets.
Surfaces
- Clean counters, cabinets, drawers or other surfaces by washing with a disinfectant solution.
Furniture
- Steam clean or shampoo cloth furniture. If rodents have nested inside furniture, then remove and burn it or have it burned.
Bedding and clothing
- Use rubber gloves to handle dirty laundry, wash bedding and clothing with hot water and detergent and dry in a hot dryer or hang to dry in the sun.
- After cleaning, disinfect and wash gloves and hands, as well as all protective gear. Immediately wash all clothing that is not disposable or soak in hot, soapy water until it can be washed.
Additional Safety Tips:
Do not go into buildings (including camps, sheds and out buildings) that have had rodents, or may have had rodents, without properly airing out and disinfecting. If working in crawl spaces, be sure to wear a mask, protective clothing, footwear and gloves that can be disinfected or thrown away.
If you are at risk for occupational exposure to hantavirus (e.g., pest control workers, wildlife researchers), consider contacting the Workplace Health Safety and Compensation Commission for additional precautionary guidelines.
When spending time outdoors:
Pitch tents in areas without rodent droppings and burrows.
- Avoid all wild rodents, burrows and dens.
- Avoid camping near woodpiles or garbage areas where rodents might live.
- Use tents with floors or cover the ground under your sleeping area.
- While camping, hiking or staying in camps, use only bottled, filtered, boiled or chemically disinfected water.
- Sleep on elevated cots, if possible.
- Store foods in rodent-proof containers and promptly discard, bury or burn all garbage.
Do not keep rodents that have been caught in the wild as pets.
Special Note:
- Dogs or cats are not known to spread Hantavirus from a rodent to a person.
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