Deer mice can carry the virus
Hantavirus, which can be severe or fatal if contracted by humans, is in the news cycle recently as passengers and crew aboard the MV Hondius are dealing with an outbreak.
And though the ship is heading towards the Canary Islands, and multiple health organizations saying the risk to the wider public is low, the hantavirus can show up on a farm through mice.
With that at top of mind, here’s rundown of essential information related to the hantavirus and how to protect against catching it.
What is it?
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause serious illness and death.
The viruses can cause diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare but often fatal respiratory disease, or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). HFRS can cause high fever, internal bleeding, and kidney failure.
Since testing began in the U.S. in 1993, and the end of 2023, there’s been 890 cases of hantavirus.
Symptoms
HPS symptoms can appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and may present like the flu.
After symptoms begin, they can escalate quickly. A common sign of HPS is shortness of breath as the lungs begin to fill with water.
HFRS can start with sudden high fever and chills, which can begin one to two weeks after exposure.
Signs of hemorrhaging can follow, including tiny red or purple spots on the skin.
Later stages of HFRS can include kidney failure, which causes a drop in urine output.
How is it spread?
Hantaviruses are spread through the inhalation of virus particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
The Andes strain, the one responsible for the outbreak on the MV Hondius, is the only strain known to spread from human to human.
Deer mice, which farmers can find in barns, are known to carry this strain.
Deer mice have traits that differentiate them from house mice.
These rodents have large eyes and ears, long tails, and are different in color. The belly is white, while the back and upper part of their tails are dark brown or gray.
They’re known to frequent areas like attics, barns, garages, and sheds.
And deer mice droppings look different than their house mice counterparts.
Deer mice droppings are smaller and are shaped like tiny rice with pointed ends.
What to do if you discover deer mice and/or droppings
- Wear rubber gloves while working in the area, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards
- Refrain from sweeping or vacuuming to keep the particles from spreading
- Clean the area with a 1:9 bleach/water solution, soak the droppings for 30 minutes, then wipe up with a paper towel
- If a live mouse is caught for relocation, set it free about 2 miles away to prevent it from returning
- If a dead mouse is caught, spray the carcass with disinfectant before disposing of it in a plastic bag.
The Centers for Disease Control has more information about hantavirus.