How to Prevent Hantavirus

Hantavirus is spread to humans through direct contact with rodents and by air via the animals' urine and droppings. The deadly virus kills almost half of its victims.

Things You'll Need

• Spray Bottles
• Protective Clothes
• 1 Gallon Liquid Bleach
• HEPA Or N-100 Safety Masks
• Brown Paper Bags
• Fine Steel Wool
• Mops
• Rodent Traps
• Wet Vacuums
• Peanut Butter
• Latex Gloves
• Measuring Cups
• Paper Towels
• Buckets
• Caulking Guns And Caulking
• Safety Goggles
• Screen Wire
• Paper towels
• Measuring cups

Instructions

Avoid Contact With Rodents

1. Block entryways into buildings. Use weather stripping, flashing, caulking, and fine steel wool for openings around doors, windows, roofing, and points of entry for pipes and utility lines.

2. Set snap traps - not "humane" or "live-catch" traps - if there is any suspicion of rodent infestation in a building. Bait traps with peanut butter and place in open paper bags near sides of walls and runways. Wear latex gloves and a HEPA face mask (see Glossary) when disposing of a trap containing a dead rodent.

3. Eliminate brush and storage piles, which are nesting sites for rodents.

4. Remove food normally left out for pets and wildlife.

5. When camping, select sites away from rodent nesting, feeding and drinking places. Sleep off the ground in an enclosed tent or on a ground tarp. Seal all food sources and protect food from contamination.

Clean Up Droppings

1. Open up and air out, for at least 30 minutes, a building that rodents may have entered.

2. Make a 10-percent solution of bleach and water. Use a cup of household bleach per gallon of water or 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.

3. Put on protective clothing: boots, thick long pants and shirt, vinyl gloves, goggles and a HEPA face mask.

4. Douse droppings with the bleach solution, or soak thoroughly using a spray bottle. Allow to stand for 10 minutes.

5. Use the bleach solution and a mop, paper towels or a wet vacuum to pick up the droppings.

6. Dispose of the droppings and paper towels in tightly sealed plastic bags.

7. Immediately clean all garments, coverings and tools with a 10-percent bleach solution.

Tips & Warnings

• Rodent droppings spread other diseases too. Use these precautions in the presence of any droppings.

• Caution other adults and monitor children. The virus is not apparent in rodents, and even cute, healthy rodents can be hantavirus carriers.

• Mice can enter through openings as small as 1/4 inch, and rats through 1/2-inch spaces.

• Never sweep or vacuum affected areas. The virus easily becomes airborne and is most easily transmitted in this manner. And it doesn't matter how old the droppings are.

• If you are exposed to a rodent and develop flu-like symptoms 3 days to 6 weeks after exposure, see a doctor immediately. Tell the doctor you have had contact with rodents or their droppings. Prompt treatment is essential.