Health officials in South Dakota advise residents to take steps to prevent hantavirus, a disease carried primarily by deer mice.
Here are five facts to know:
1. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome has 15 reported cases in South Dakota, including five deaths, since its first detection in the southwestern United States in 1993.
2. There have been more than 640 cases of hantavirus in the United States since its first detection.
3. The virus fills the lungs with fluid and may result in respiratory failure. Because rodents are the primary carriers, rodent control is a crucial preventative measure.
4. Symptoms generally appear within one to four weeks of exposure and include fatigue, a fever of 101 to 104 degrees, muscle aches, vomiting, cough and diarrhea.
5. Various measures can be taken to reduce exposure to the hantavirus infection. Such measures include:
• Seal gaps around roofs, attics, basements, doors, under sinks and other pipes.
• Wear rubber or plastic gloves to clean up dead mice or other droppings.
• Spray dead mice, urine or droppings with a disinfectant or mixture of 11.5 cups of household bleach and one gallon of water.
• Soak for five minutes, wipe up with a paper towel and put everything in a plastic bag and seal. Put in a second bag and seal that as well. Do not use a vacuum cleaner or broom, which could scatter dust and viral particles.
• Clean the area with a disinfectant or bleach solution. Wash gloved hands with soap and water and wash again before taking off gloves.
• Keep your house and yard junk free and cut down of nesting sites for mice. Use thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids for garbage and for storing pet food.
For more on infection control:
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