Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is an acute infectious disease acquired through contact with fluids from wild “long-tailed” mice (oligorizomys longicaudatus). It is generally serious and can be deadly.
Given that it is a seasonal illness, it is important to take a series of precautions to avoid contagion during the warmer months of the year.
How does one catch Hantavirus?
The virus is acquired through contact with fluids from wild “long-tailed” mice (oligorizomys longicaudatus), mainly through the feces and urine that they leave in bushes and in closed spaces like cabins and storage areas. The aerosols from the urine are inhaled by people, causing them to catch the virus.
What are the symptoms?
The illness has an incubation period of 1 to 3 weeks with a range of 3 to 45 days. It is characterized by fever, myalgia (muscle pain) and gastrointestinal issues followed by sudden onset of breathing failure and hypotension. The illness evolves quickly until it reaches a state of serious respiratory failure and shock.
Which season poses the highest risk?
People become ill with Hantavirus most frequently during spring and summer because they tend to visit rural areas and forests during those seasons.
Who is most at risk?
The highest risk population is people living in or visiting rural areas who use work or recreational spaces that tend to be empty for long periods of time and where mice are present.
Where should people be most careful?
Be careful in rural or semi-rural areas, especially when approaching or entering closed areas such as sheds or homes that have been empty for some time.
Prior to entering these spaces, air them out for 30 minutes and then enter wearing masks and gloves and use bleach to sanitize them.
Prevention is Key
Inside the home:
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Seal any opening that rodents could use to gain access to the home with resistant materials such as steel and cement.
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Remove unused items that rodents could use for refuge.
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Keep trash in covered containers.
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Store food items in hermetically sealed containers.
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Refrain from leaving food –including pet foot- within reach of rodents. Clean all items used immediately and dispose of refuse in trash bins.
Outside of the home:
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Ventilate areas that have been closed up and empty for 30 minutes. Open the doors and windows. Next, spray the area with a bleach solution to avoid the formation of aerosols.
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Keep the perimeter of the building clean and free of elements that rodents can use for food or refuge.
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Remove weeds and keep grass short in a 30-meter perimeter around the house. Clear the perimeter of the house of rodents seven days prior to removing weeds in order to prevent rodents from moving inside.
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Keep all refuse in closed containers inside and outside of the home. If trash collection services are not available, bury the trash each day in locations removed from the home and cover it with at least 30 cm of dirt.
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Keep water storage sources protected. Always boil non-potable water before consuming.
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Store grains, firewood, hay, tools, etc. at least 30 meters from the home and ensure that the areas where they are kept are properly ventilated.
In the countryside and while camping:
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Use paths or roads. Do not enter areas with abundant vegetation.
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Avoid gathering wild berries or firewood.
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Camp in open areas where there is no evidence of rodents. Always use authorized camping areas.
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Take steps to limit the presence of rodents at your camp site (in the forest, on farms and in other areas).
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Use tents with floors that close completely. Keep your camp site clean.
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Store food items in covered containers.