RATS

							RATS, MICE, THEIR DROPPINGS
Hantavirus
What animals have been associated with the Hantavirus infections?
   Only rodents, particularly rats and mice, have been associated with spreading hantavirus
    infections.
What is hantavirus?
   Hantavirus is a virus capable of causing an acute illness with shortness of breath and flu-like
    sign of approaching disease (fever, aching muscles, headache and cough) followed by rapidly
    developing respiratory failure.
Have there been cases in Texas?
   A middle aged woman in Angelina County became ill and then died of respiratory failure in
    the latter part of June 1995. A serum sample tested positive for hantavirus. This case is the
    only Texas case that has been confirmed to date. Reports of other cases scattered
    throughout Texas are being investigated. Some of the patients in these cases died before
    biologic samples were taken or saved. Consequently, definitive diagnosis of illness in these
    cases may not be possible.
How do people catch hantavirus infections?
   Rodents are the natural hosts for all known hantaviruses. Humans are thought to be
    infected from exposure to rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, either through aerosols (small
    particles of matter suspended in air) or direct inoculation. Rodents may be chronically
    infected with hantavirus and excrete the virus for months.
Can this disease be spread from person-to-person?
   No, there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission for any of the known
    hantaviruses. There are no documented cases of hantavirus being transmitted from infected
    patients to health care workers.
What should a person do if they think they have hantavirus?
   Anybody with acute shortness of breath should see a physician.
Is there any treatment for hantavirus infection?
   Since June 4, 1993 ribavirin has been available through a new drug (IND) protocol to treat
    patients who have possible hantavirus infection.
If you trap a rat or mouse, how do you dispose of it?
   The trap and rodent can be disposed of at the same time. However, if the trap is to be
    reused it should be disinfected with bleach or triphenyl-based disinfectant (such as Lysol).
If you find a dead rodent, rodent nest, rodent dropping or urine, what should you do?
Procedures:
 Never touch the rodent, its droppings, or its urine with bare hands.

 Try not to disturb the rodents or their wastes in a manner that creates aerosols.

 Put on elbow length rubber or vinyl gloves. Use goggles and respirator if needed.

 Thoroughly spray animal, droppings or nests with a mixture of 3 ounces (6 tablespoons or 1/3
    cup) of bleach in 1 gallon of water.

 If the body is badly decomposing cover with lime.

 Use a paper plate, paper towels, or shovel to place disinfected material and disposable
    cleaning items into a plastic bag.

 Seal or tie the bag and place it into another bag.

 Place the bag in a covered trash container for regular trash disposal.

 Disinfect non-disposable cleaning items.

 Use disinfectant on the surface where the rodent was found.

 Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after clean-up.




Materials List
 Elbow length gloves

 Respirator

 Bleach

 Insecticide (ant and flea)

 Disposal towels

 Plastic bags

 Shovel

 Lime

 Protective clothing (if needed, disposable suit)

 Goggles