Of Deer Mice and Hantavirus - Avoid the Disease

Mike stood transfixed in the doorway of the tool shed, looking nervously at the mice droppings. He had read the horror stories about deer mice and Hantavirus, and there he was, needing to cross a sea of droppings to get tools at the back of the shed.

Mike immediately stopped breathing and took a step back, closing the door. Oh no, was it too late? Did he contract the dreaded respiratory disease?

He quickly hunted down a dust mask and a pair of safety goggles, and then tied plastic bags over his shoes. He felt more confident after he carefully swept the droppings into a dustpan. But then he realized his big mistake – he was supposed to wet down the area with disinfectant before wiping it up.

Mike was sure he was going to die within weeks. In fact, he could feel the flu-like symptoms coming on. He was only 41.

Of course, Mike was getting paranoid. Those droppings didn’t belong to infected deer mice, and he didn’t breath in the deadly virus.

But the same can’t be said for three family members in Alberta who were spring-cleaning their garage last year. One died of respiratory illness and the other two were hospitalized. The cause: exposure to infected deer mice droppings.

TINY CULPRIT: BIG DANGER
People who frequently come in contact with deer mice and/or their excrement face the risk of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). This virus is rare, but has a case fatality rate of nearly 40 percent.

The disease was first reported in the US in 1993. Ten years later there were more than 350 reported cases. Thirty eight percent of the people died from the infection.

Deer mice shed the virus through their urine and droppings. Humans contract the disease by breathing in material contaminated by mice excrement. For example, if you sweep up dirt that contains mice droppings, the virus becomes airborne and infectious.

NO CLEAN SWEEP
Health officials warn people to dispose of mice droppings carefully. In Alberta, Canada, Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Karen Grimsrud advises people not to sweep or vacuum mice droppings. Instead, people should wet (spray) these areas with disinfectant or bleach, then wipe with a damp towel. The contents should then be sealed in a leak-proof bag and disposed of. Always wear latex or rubber gloves when cleaning rodent-infested areas. Dispose of or disinfect the gloves afterwards, then wash your hands thoroughly.

IT’S NOT CONTAGIOUS
Fortunately, according to the US Center for Disease Control, HPS cannot be transmitted from one person to another. But if you’ve been exposed to mice droppings and then experience symptoms of fever, muscle aches and shortness of breath, you should see your healthcare provider right away.