Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe, sometimes fatal, respiratory disease in humans caused by infection with hantaviruses. Anyone who comes into contact with rodents that carry hantaviruses is at risk of HPS. Rodent infestation in and around the home remains the primary risk for hantavirus exposure.

Does hantavirus pulmonary syndrome affect the lungs?

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

The hantaviruses found in Europe and Asia cause a form of kidney disease called hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The hantaviruses in the Americas attack the lungs, causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).

What happens when you have hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can quickly become life-threatening. As the lungs fill with fluid, breathing becomes more and more difficult. Blood pressure drops and organs begin to fail, particularly the heart.

Can hantavirus pulmonary syndrome be treated?

Treating HPS

There is no specific treatment, cure, or vaccine for hantavirus infection. However, we do know that if infected individuals are recognized early and receive medical care in an intensive care unit, they may do better.

What parts of the body does hantavirus affect?

Hantavirus enters your body when you inhale virus particles from infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. The virus affects the heart, lungs, and kidneys, reducing their ability to function. The virus also enters the bloodstream, where it continues to spread and cause further organ damage.

Hantavirus - Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome - Basic info on what you need to know

32 related questions found

Do house mice carry hantavirus?

In North America, they are the deer mouse, the white-footed mouse, the rice rat, and the cotton rat. However, not every deer mouse, white-footed mouse, rice rat, or cotton rat carries a hantavirus. Other rodents, such as house mice, roof rats, and Norway rats, have never been known to give people HPS.

Can you survive hantavirus?

The prognosis of HPS is fair to poor because currently, about 62% of patients recover, while about 38% will die. The prognosis may be better if the patient gets his/her diagnosis early and given support in an intensive care unit in a hospital.

How long does the Hantavirus live?

The virus may remain infectious for 2 to 3 days at room temperature. Exposure to sunlight will decrease the time of viability and freezing temperatures will increase the time that the virus remains infectious.

What kills the Hantavirus?

The virus, which is able to survive in the environment for a few hours or days (for example, in dirt and dust in the shade or in rodent nests) can be killed by most household disinfectants, such as bleach, detergents, or alcohol. Exposure to the sun's UV rays can also kill the virus.

How likely is it to get Hantavirus?

Cohen: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is rare — the chance of getting the disease is 1 in 13,000,000, which is less likely than being struck by lightning.

Who is most at risk for hantavirus?

People at Risk for Hantavirus Infection

Anyone who comes into contact with rodents that carry hantavirus is at risk of HPS. Rodent infestation in and around the home remains the primary risk for hantavirus exposure. Even healthy individuals are at risk for HPS infection if exposed to the virus.

What are the first signs of hantavirus?

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.

Can mice droppings make you sick?

Hantavirus is carried by rodents, particularly deer mice. The virus is found in their urine and feces, but it does not make the animal sick. It is believed that humans can get sick with this virus if they breathe in contaminated dust from mice nests or droppings.

Is there any medicine for hantavirus?

The CDC further said that there is no specific treatment, cure, or vaccine for hantavirus infection. “Treatment of patients with HPS remains supportive in nature.

Can you get hantavirus from old mouse droppings?

A person may be exposed to hantavirus by breathing contaminated dust after disturbing or cleaning rodent droppings or nests, or by living or working in rodent-infested settings. Typically one to five cases are reported each year and about one out of three people diagnosed with HPS have died.

Will a mask prevent hantavirus?

Typically an N95-rated Dust Mask is considered sufficient protection against viruses. Particles from mouse feces might become airborne if they are swept or vacuumed, so spraying with a mixture of bleach and water is recommended before wiping down the areas.

Do baby deer mice carry hantavirus?

Hantavirus is already present in the body fluids and tissues of many, but not all, deer mice. They give the virus to one another when fighting for mates, when there can be scratches and bites. The mother deer mouse does not pass the virus on to her babies.

Can mice live in a car?

Unfortunately, when a vehicle sits idle for too long it can become a cozy place for mice and other pests to take residence. Even if you leave your car's doors closed and windows rolled up, there are plenty of ways for a mouse to get inside.

Do onions keep mice away?

The pungent odour of onions helps keep mice at a distance. However, onions are toxic for pets and it's advisable to not use this method if you have pets. Place fresh onions around your home and change them on a regular basis. Baking soda helps deter mice and other pests.

Do house mice carry diseases?

While the common house mouse is not as dangerous to your health as a deer mouse, they can still spread disease, such as hantavirus, salmonellosis and listeria through their urine, droppings, saliva and nesting materials.

Why are mice so hard to get rid of?

The truth is that mice are difficult to eliminate for several reasons. One of the main reason is that they're resourceful and far more clever than your average spider or cockroach. ... Unfortunately, mice don't like being bothered, so they will run away from you when given the opportunity.

Is mouse urine toxic to humans?

Hantavirus is a potentially life-threatening disease transmitted to humans by rodents-primarily, the white-footed deer mouse. People become infected through exposure or inhalation of infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva, and the chances increase when people are near spaces where rodents are actively living.

What looks like mouse poop but isn t?

Cockroach droppings are typically 2/8 of an inch and black. This causes them to sometimes be mistaken for mouse droppings. But, cockroaches can get into a lot of places even mice can't get into, so these pellets can be found in a wider variety of locations.

What if I vacuumed mouse droppings?

Virus Risk: Why Sweeping & Vacuuming Rat & Mice Droppings Can Be Hazardous to Your Health. ... When these substances are swept or vacuumed they can break up, forcing virus particles into the air where they can easily be inhaled, infecting the person doing the cleaning.

Does a dead mouse smell like urine?

Foul Smells

Mice have a distinctive, musky ammonia smell that smells like stale urine. ... The smell may also be evident along baseboards and walls where mice frequently travel; the odor helps them establish and mark their territory.