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What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)?
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease
caused by hantaviruses. Rodents can transmit hantaviruses through urine, droppings,
or saliva. Humans can contract the disease when they breathe
in aerosolized virus.
Who is at risk of contracting HPS?
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.
Which rodents are known to be carriers of hantavirus
that cause HPS in humans?
In the United States, deer
mice, cotton and rice rats (in the Southeast), and the white-footed
mouse (in the Northeast), are the only known rodent carriers
of hantaviruses causing HPS.
How is HPS transmitted?
Hantavirus is transmitted by infected rodents through
urine, droppings, or saliva. Individuals become infected with
HPS after breathing fresh aerosolized urine, droppings, saliva,
or nesting materials. Transmission can also occur when these
materials are directly introduced into broken skin, the nose
or the mouth. If a rodent with the virus bites someone, the
virus may be spread to that person, but this type of transmission
is rare.
Can you contract HPS from another person?
HPS in the United States cannot be transmitted from
one person to another. You cannot get the virus from touching
or kissing a person who has HPS or from a health care worker
who has treated someone with the disease. In addition, you
cannot contract the virus from a blood transfusion in which
you receive blood from a person who survived HPS.
Can you contract HPS from other
animals?
Hantaviruses that cause HPS in the United States
are only known to be transmitted by certain species of rodents.
HPS in the United States is not known to be transmitted by
farm animals, dogs, or cats or from rodents purchased from
a pet store.
How long can hantavirus remain infectious in the
environment?
The length of time hantaviruses can remain infectious
in the environment is variable and depends on environmental
conditions, such as temperature and humidity, whether the
virus is indoors or outdoors or exposed to the sun, and even
on the rodent’s diet (which would affect the chemistry
of its urine). Viability for 2 or 3 days has been shown at
normal room temperature. Exposure to sunlight will decrease
the time of viability, and freezing temperatures will actually
increase the time that the virus remains viable. Since the
survival of infectious virus is measured in terms of hours
or days, only active infestations of infected rodents result
in conditions that are likely to lead to human hantavirus
infection.
How do I prevent HPS?
SEAL UP, TRAP UP,
CLEAN UP
Seal up rodent entry holes or gaps with steel wool,
lath metal, or caulk. Trap rats and mice by using an appropriate
snap trap. Clean up rodent food sources and nesting sites
and take precautions when cleaning rodent-infested areas.
See the HPS Prevention
Checklist for a complete listing.
What are the recommendations for cleaning a rodent-infested
area?
- Put on rubber, latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves.
- Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other
means.
- Thoroughly wet contaminated areas with a bleach solution
or household disinfectant.
Hypochlorite (bleach) solution: Mix 1 and ½
cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Once everything is wet, take up contaminated materials with
damp towel and then mop or sponge the area with bleach solution
or household disinfectant.
Spray dead rodents with disinfectant and then double-bag along
with all cleaning materials. Bury, burn, or throw out rodent
in appropriate waste disposal system. (Contact your local
or state health department concerning other appropriate disposal
methods.)
Disinfect gloves with disinfectant or soap and water before
taking them off.
After taking off the clean gloves, thoroughly wash hands with
soap and water (or use a waterless alcohol-based hand rub
when soap is not available).
Can I use a vacuum with HEPA filter to clean up rodent-contaminated
areas?
HEPA vacuums are not recommended since they blow
air around and may create aerosols.
How do I clean papers, books, and delicate items?
Books, papers, and other items that cannot be cleaned with
a liquid disinfectant or thrown away should be left outdoors
in the sunlight for several hours or in an indoor area free
of rodents for approximately 1 week before final cleaning.
After that time, the virus should no longer be infectious.
Wear rubber, latex, or vinyl gloves and wipe the items with
a cloth moistened with disinfectant.
I do not want to bleach my clothes or stuffed animals;
is there anything else I can do?
Wash clothing or stuffed animals in the washing machine
using hot water and regular detergent. Laundry detergent can
break down the virus’s lipid envelope, rendering it
harmless. Machine dry laundry on a high setting or hang it
to air dry in the sun. CDC does not recommend simply running
the clothing through the dryer without washing first.
How do I clean rugs, carpets and upholstered furniture?
Disinfect carpets and upholstered furniture with
a disinfectant or with a commercial-grade steam cleaner or
shampoo.
What precautions should I take
if I think I have been exposed to hantavirus?
If you have been exposed to rodents or rodent infestations
and have symptoms of fever, deep muscle aches, and severe
shortness of breath, see your doctor immediately. Inform your
doctor of possible rodent exposure so that he/she is alerted
to the possibility of rodent-borne diseases, such as HPS.
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National
Center for Infectious Diseases
