How To Prevent Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a serious, often deadly disease. It is new and largely unknown to science until a half-century or so ago. The disease is primarily spread through contact with rodents, more specifically through contact with their droppings, and/or urine, commonly contracted through the respiration of dust containing infected particles from rodent droppings. Most confirmed cases have been confined to the west and southwest U.S. with well over 300 known cases confirmed within the past few years. Initial symptoms of Hantavirus are described as flu-like, and the average survival rate stands at around fifty percent. Thankfully there's several relatively easy ways to prevent the spread of the Hantavirus and minimize its chances of finding an unlucky host.

The first and most obvious defensive strategy in Hantavirus prevention is to minimize any human to rodent interaction in the first place. This mostly means keeping rodents out of the home. Rodents love two things: food (an easy and constant source of it) and shelter, especially cluttered, disorganized shelter. Just the simple act of cleaning up overgrown grass and weeds, and not allowing piles of clutter to accumulate around the house, and never leaving any food accessible to them will go a long way in keeping the creatures at bay.

Secondly, giving the entire house a tedious and detailed inspection. Looking for any holes or cracks anywhere in or around the home. Rats and mice can squeeze through the tiniest holes imaginable! Another great thing that couldn't hurt is acquiring a cat or two. Most mice and rats are instinctively terrified by the smells of a feline and are therefore far less likely to intrude into a home that has a cat.

A good many folks have contracted Hantavirus through just sweeping out their house, or building while inhaling the dust laced with Hantavirus, so it’s quite important to not sweep or stir up any potentially hazardous dust. It's best before cleaning out an old house or shed, etc. to allow natural airflow throughout the structure. Air it out for a day before going back inside. Then fill spray bottles with a solution of bleach water and spray down floors, walls, dead rodents, or droppings. (Bleach kills Hantavirus.) Rubber or latex gloves are essential. I would also suggest a respirator, or at least a face mask of some kind while working around known rodent colonies.

So, with only minimal precautions it's easy to avoid and prevent the Hantavirus.