What is Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly respiratory illness caused by certain types of hantaviruses, viruses found in the saliva, urine, and droppings of some rodents. The disease is rare but deadly for humans who can contract it by coming into contact with an infected rodent or their urine and droppings.

Who is at risk for HPS?

Anyone who comes into contact with rodents that carry hantavirus is at risk of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Rodents known to carry hantaviruses that cause HPS in humans are deer mice, cotton and rice rats (in the Southeast U.S.), and the white-footed mouse (in the Northeast U.S.)

What are the symptoms of HPS?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes ordinarily healthy people who to suddenly become very sick. About a couple of weeks after being infected with the virus, the individual develops fever and muscle aches. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, chills, headache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. After a few days, the symptoms may become worse and may be accompanied by coughing and severe shortness of breath. Breathing becomes rapid and more difficult as the lungs fill with fluid. When an individual experiences this shortness of breath, death may be just hours away. Most people who die of HPS do so within one or two days of when the severe shortness of breath began.

How can HPS be treated?

Once symptoms of HPS develop, immediate medical attention is needed. Treatment is mainly supportive and includes assisted mechanical breathing and maintenance of fluid balance, electrolyte balance and blood pressure. There is no surgical treatment for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

How can I prevent myself being infected with hantaviruses?

The best way to prevent infection with hantaviruses is to avoid contact with rodents and their urine, droppings and nesting materials. You can reduce your exposure to rodents that may carry hantaviruses by reducing rodents indoors and outdoors and cleaning up rodent-infested areas.

To reduce rodent populations indoors and outdoors:

• Seal rodent entry holes with steel wool, lath metal, or caulk.
• Trap rats and mice with snap traps.
• Clean up rodent food sources and nesting sites

To clean up rodent infested areas:

• Use rubber, latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves.
• Avoid stirring up dust by vacuuming or sweeping
• Wet contaminated areas with a bleach solution or household disinfectant,
• Take up contaminated materials with damp towel
• 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. (Contract Montgomery County Environmental Health Services for 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 a waterless alcohol-based hand rub

What do I do if I think I'm infected with HPS?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a life threatening condition. Call 911 or seek immediate medical treatment if you have the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Muscle aches, especially in the thighs, hips, back, and sometimes the shoulders
• Severe difficulty breathing.

Immediate treatment may be needed to support your breathing and prevent shock.

To find out more about hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, talk with your doctor, or check out the CDC web site: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/index.htm

For more information about sealing up, trapping up and cleaning up rodents, check out the HPS prevention checklist: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps_stc/Checklist.pdf