The month of May equals spring cleaning: Time to get the RV ready to hit the road or clean out sheds, barns and mountain cabins. But if you see mouse droppings littering the floor, stop and step outside.That RV or outbuilding may contain hantavirus, a rare but deadly disease. “In 1993, there were 49 cases of hantavirus in Colorado, and 16 people died from it,” said Lee Griffen, team leader for the environmental quality team at the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment. According to the Center for Disease Control, the virus was virtually unheard of in the United States until that year when a young, healthy Navajo couple was the first to die from a mysterious virus.However, Navajo medical healers were aware of a disease associated with mice for hundreds of years, and they cautioned people to keep mice out of their hogans and to protect their food supplies against rodent infestations. Ironically, in 1993, Navajo elders predicted an outbreak of a disease that they knew would “rob people’s breath” because heavy rains had produced a large piÒon nut crop, a major food source for mice in the four corners of Colorado.After the CDC investigated the first deaths and listened to accounts of Navajo traditions, which reported similar outbreaks in 1933 and 1934, they were able to quickly identify the virus. “Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is primarily a lung infection,” according to the CDC. Found in the saliva, urine, and droppings of some species of mice and rats, the virus enters the human body when people inhale dust contaminated by the rodents.In Falcon and surrounding areas, the deer mouse is the primary culprit responsible for spreading hantavirus. Griffen referred to it as “a country mouse that likes to live in sheds and barns found in rural areas.” He also said there are “no known cases of human to human transmission of the virus.”People may experience flu-like symptoms within one to six weeks after exposure to the virus, and it is important to seek medical care. Initial symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, abdominal pain, diarrhea and lower back and leg pain. A few days later, victims will develop a dry cough and shortness of breath. “This is a sign that fluid has begun to build up in the lungs,” Griffen said.It is important for people to understand why precautionary steps are so necessary to avoid exposure to this disease, he said. “Hantavirus is not a disease to be taken lightly because there are no vaccines, pills or treatments other than supportive care once someone becomes infected with the virus.”However, that doesn’t mean people should avoid cleaning outbuildings, but certain guidelines must be followed in order to limit the chance of catching the virus, Griffen added. Prevention is possible by airing out the building for at least 30 minutes and wearing disposable rubber gloves. OSHA recommends using a respirator with a HEPA rated filter.Griffen also said that using a garden sprayer containing a formula of one cup of bleach per gallon of water to spray the building. “It is not necessary to soak the area,” he said. The purpose is to spray the area so no dust is visible when removing the droppings.The CDC recommends using a shovel or wet mop to remove the droppings as opposed to sweeping or vacuuming, which may cause dust particles to become airborne. Also, spray dead rodents or nesting materials with the bleach mixture and put them in a sealed plastic bag before placing the material in a trash can.Griffen said it is very important to prevent further infestations in two ways. First, set traps or place rodent bait out to kill any mice currently in the building. Second, seal all entrances to keep mice out of buildings. He said look for spots where light should not be entering the structure, especially around door frames, because “mice can get through a gap even as small as one-half inch.” Griffen recommends the use of steel wool to plug holes around pipes and vents. “Foam installation doesn’t usually work because mice will eat through it,” he said.”If you take the right precautions, hantavirus is a hard disease to catch.” But if the disease is contracted, a University of New Mexico study by Schmaljohn and Hjelle showed that the strain of hantavirus associated with deer mice has a 40-percent mortality rate.How to clean rodent infested buildings
- Open doors and windows and let the building air for at least 30 minutes before beginning clean-up.
- Wear rubber gloves, long sleeves and pants, and eye goggles. When possible, wear disposable coveralls or clothing that can be thrown away after use.
- Use a face mask with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
- Spray droppings, rodent bodies and nesting material with a solution of one cup of bleach per gallon of water.
- Do not vacuum or sweep the area.
- Use a shovel or mop to remove the droppings.
- Place nesting materials, dead rodents and droppings in a sealed plastic bag before disposing.
- Wash all clothing used in the clean-up process in bleach, or dispose of it.
- Disinfect your gloves before removing them, throw gloves away, and wash hands immediately.
