Hantavirus Deaths Rare

By CHELSEA KROTZER

The hantavirus that is believed to have killed Ellensburg Police Sgt. Nelson Ng is deadly but fairly rare, according to an epidemiologist with the state Department of Health. Humans get the disease from contact with infected rodents, particularly deer mice. The hantavirus is usually transmitted through droppings and urine of rodents and can get into the air.“Most people don’t realize cleaning up rodent droppings is a threat to health,” said Rebecca Baer, an epidemiologist with the state Department of Health. There is no cure, vaccine or treatment for hantavirus and one third to half the people who get the disease die, according to the federal Center for Disease Control.There have been 35 cases of hantavirus infection in Washington, with 11 resulting in death, since 1993, said Baer. The last death occurred in 2006 in Okanagon County, she said. There have been no other Kittitas County hantavirus infections or deaths, she said.
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The figures don’t include Ng’s case, which hasn’t been confirmed by the state Department of Health as being caused by hantavirus. Yakima County coroner Maurice Rice performed an autopsy and found that Ng died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The state will conduct its own antibody tests to determine if Ng died of hantavirus. Hantavirus was discovered in the United States in 1993 in the Four Corners area of the Southwest. According to the CDC, early symptoms include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups-thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders. These symptoms are universal. There may also be headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. About half of all HPS patients experience these symptoms.

People who have been around rodents and have symptoms of fever, deep muscle aches, and severe shortness of breath, are advised to see a doctor immediately. They should be sure to tell the doctor that they have been around rodents, which will alert the physician to look closely for any rodent-carried disease, such as HPS.

Precautions to use when working, hiking, or camping outdoors
· Avoid coming into contact with rodents and rodent burrows or disturbing dens (such as pack rat nests).
· Air out cabins and shelters, then check for signs of rodent infestation. Do not sweep, use the guidelines for disinfecting cabins or shelters before sleeping in them.
· Do not pitch tents or place sleeping bags near rodent droppings or burrows.
· If possible, do not sleep on the bare ground. Use tents with floors or a ground cloth.
· Keep food in rodent-proof containers.
· Handle trash according to site restrictions and keep it in rodent-proof containers until disposed of.
· Do not handle or feed wild rodents.

What should I do if I think I have been exposed to mouse droppings?

If you have been exposed to rodents or rodent infested buildings and have symptoms of fever, muscle aches and severe shortness of breath, see your health care provider immediately. Inform your health care provider of possible rodent exposure so that he/she is alerted to the possibility of rodent-borne diseases, such as HPS.— Source: Washington State Department of Health

How do I prevent Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?
· Keep rodents out of your home and workplace. Always take precautions when cleaning, sealing and trapping rodent-infested areas.
· Seal up cracks and gaps in buildings that are larger than 1/4 inch including window and doorsills, under sinks around the pipes, in foundations, attics and any rodent entry hole.
· Trap indoor rats and mice with snap traps.
· Remove rodent food sources. Keep food (including pet food) in rodent proof containers.
Clean up rodent infested areas:
· Wear rubber, latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves.
· Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other means.
· Thoroughly wet contaminated areas, including trapped mice, droppings, nests with a bleach solution or household disinfectant. Hypochlorite (bleach) solution: Mix 1 and 1/2 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water.
· Once everything is soaked for 10 minutes, remove all of the nest material, mice or droppings with damp towel and then mop or sponge the area with bleach solution or household disinfectant.
· Spray dead rodents with disinfectant and then double-bag along with all cleaning materials. Bury, burn, or throw out the rodent in appropriate waste disposal system.
· Disinfect gloves with disinfectant or soap and water before taking them off.
· After taking off the clean gloves, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water (or use a waterless alcohol-based hand rub when soap is not available).