Mouse Droppings Danger of Hanta Virus

Sep 26
06:17

2012

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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Mice may carry harmful virus and bacteria that can affect humans. Other species of mice may also carry this virus. Hantavirus infection in humans may prove fatal, if immediate medical attention is not sought. In short, mice droppings can be dangerous and cleaning mice poop should be done very carefully, so as to avoid any transmission of virus or other such harmful microorganisms.

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Spotting mouse droppings in your house can be a cause of worry,Mouse Droppings Danger of Hanta Virus Articles as it can be an indication of the presence of mice in the vicinity. Before thinking about how to get rid of the mice, you have to clean up the mice droppings.

Spotting mouse droppings in your house can be a cause of worry, as it can be an indication of the presence of mice in the vicinity. Before thinking about how to get rid of the mice, you have to clean up the mice droppings. In fact, mice may carry harmful virus and bacteria that can affect humans. Some species of mice like deer mice, are transmitters of hantavirus, which can be contracted by humans, through inhalation of particles contaminated with mice feces or through ingestion or inhalation of the saliva or urine of the infected mouse. Other species of mice may also carry this virus. Hantavirus infection in humans may prove fatal, if immediate medical attention is not sought. In short, mice droppings can be dangerous and cleaning mice poop should be done very carefully, so as to avoid any transmission of virus or other such harmful microorganisms are considered dangerous because they may cause diseases such as Hantavirus which can be serious and even lead to death if the victim is not quickly attended to by a medical doctor. The Hantavirus which is caused by mouse droppings is characterized by the following symptoms; fever, vomiting, nausea and headaches. This disease mainly affects human beings but other animals such as pets may also be infected by the disease. It is also important to note that not all mouse droppings cause diseases and only the mouse that is infected may pass on the virus to humans.

Hantavirus is a viral disease carried by wild rodents – especially deer mice, which in Canada are the principal animal reservoirs of the virus. The mice themselves don't appear to get sick from the virus. But if they are infected, they excrete the virus in their feces, urine and saliva. For humans, the biggest risk of contracting Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) occurs through inhaling air contaminated with virus that becomes aerosolized after droppings are disturbed (by sweeping up, for instance). The virus remains viable for two or three days at room temperature.

Avoiding hantavirus is as simple as avoiding infected mice and their droppings. Unfortunately, that is not entirely possible for many farmers, ranchers, exterminators, cottagers or campers. For those who are at increased risk, there are some basic precautions to take. Before entering a building that may be contaminated (such as when opening up the cottage in the spring), the building should be aired out for at least an hour, with you on the outside. Most hantavirus cases occur in May, according to Lindsay, which may have to do with spring cleaning.

Avoid sweeping up or vacuuming mouse droppings, which can inject viral particles into the air. Instead, don a pair of rubber gloves and wet the material with bleach or similar disinfectant. Use a damp cloth to clean up the area and then spray with more disinfectant. Spray any dead mice with disinfectant and double-bag them for disposal. Disinfect, or better still, throw out the rubber gloves. Items that can't be disinfected can be rendered safe by exposing them to sunlight for a few hours. Ultraviolet rays kill hantavirus.

People who regularly work in rodent-infested areas would be well advised to wear HEPA-filter face masks.

When sweeping a room that has lots of mouse droppings the person cleaning the room should to take a lot of precautions to avoid being infected by the mouse droppings so they do not come in contact with diseases such as Hantavirus. The person cleaning the room should open all the windows to allow air to freely circulate in the room. The windows should be kept open because if the person works in a congested room the mouse droppings may easily release the viruses which may cause diseases in human beings. Cleaning mouse droppings may be tedious and cumbersome as the person who is cleaning the mouse droppings should take every precaution. The person who is cleaning the mouse droppings should put on protective clothing such as masks and gloves to protect his body as the exposed body parts may be the entry points for the viruses.

It can't be emphasized enough that Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a rare illness and the risk of contracting it is very low. Cottagers are at far greater risk of dying in an accident on their way to the cabin than from hantavirus. But simple prudence demands that if you've been in an area that's been contaminated with mouse droppings and you later develop flu-like symptoms or have trouble breathing, you should seek medical attention immediately.

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