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Clean Up Infested Areas, Using
Safety Precautions:
 Put
on latex rubber gloves before cleaning up.
Do not stir up dust by sweeping up or vacuuming up droppings,
urine or nesting materials.
Instead, thoroughly wet contaminated
areas with detergent or liquid to deactivate the virus. Most general
purpose disinfectants and household detergents are effective. However,
a hypochlorite solution prepared by mixing 1 and 1/2 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon
of water may be used in place of commercial disinfectant. When
using the chlorine solution, avoid spilling the mixture on clothing
or other items that may be damaged.
Once everything is wet, take up contaminated materials with a damp
towel, then mop or sponge the area with disinfectant.
Spray dead rodents with disinfectant, then double-bag along with all
cleaning materials and bury or burn—or throw out in appropriate waste
disposal system. If burning or burying isn't feasible, contact your local
or state health department about other disposal methods.
Finally, disinfect gloves before taking them off with disinfectant
or soap and water. After taking off the clean gloves, thoroughly
wash hands with soap and warm water.
When going into cabins or outbuildings (or work areas) that have
been closed for awhile, open them up and air out before cleaning.
Hantaviruses and Disinfectants
Hantaviruses are surrounded by a lipid (fatty) envelope, so they
are somewhat fragile. The lipid envelope can be destroyed and the
virus killed by fat solvents, such as alcohol, ordinary disinfectants
and household bleach. That is why one of the most important ways
to prevent transmitting the disease is to carefully wet down dead
rodents and areas where rodents have been with disinfectant and/or
bleach. When you do this, you are killing the virus itself and reducing
the chance that the virus will get into the air.
Strength and Quantity of Hypochlorite Solutions
(Bleach)
Special Pathogens Branch recommends a 10% bleach solution be used
to inactivate hantaviruses.
For more information on HPS prevention, visit the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Spotlight: Seal Up! Trap Up! Clean Up! |
National
Center for Infectious Diseases
