AHS warns about Hantavirus
Posted Apr 13, 2015 6:07 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As the weather warms up and we start our spring cleaning, we are being warned about Hantavirus.
Alberta Health Services says the potentially fatal illness affects the lungs — and is caused by inhaling particles of urine or feces from infected mice.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Judy MacDonald tells 660News it could happen pretty much anywhere in the province.
“It’s associated with deer mice and so if you just see mouse droppings you don’t know what kind of mice that is associated with, but we know that deer mice are throughout Alberta so it is better to be safe,” said MacDonald.
AHS has a list of precautions you can take to stay clear of Hantavirus if you need to clean up mouse droppings.
Open all windows and doors for ventilation, wear rubber gloves, and soak any droppings, nests or dead rodents in a bleach & water solution.
Never vacuum or sweep the droppings since it can create dust that can be inhaled.
Wearing a mask is also a good idea.
Symptoms of Hantavirus include: fever, body aches, chills, abdominal pain, and severe breathing problems.
