Hantavirus infection is a rare but serious illness. Typical symptoms are flu-like and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, diarrhea, abdominal pain and shortness of breath. These symptoms can occur any time between three days to six weeks (usually occurring around 14 days) after exposure. Infection without symptoms is rare.

Exposure to hantaviruses can cause a rare, but often fatal, disease called Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). HPS can progress rapidly into serious lung complications and include the following symptoms: abnormal fall in blood pressure; lungs fill with fluid and severe respiratory failure.

There have been 23 cases of Hantavirus reported in Saskatchewan since 1994, including four cases in 2004, one case in 2008, one case in 2010 and three cases in 2011.

Humans are most often exposed to the virus by breathing in air particles contaminated by deer mouse saliva, urine or feces containing infectious hantaviruses. This can occur, for example, after sweeping or vacuuming infected areas.

The virus can also be transmitted by:

• being bitten by a deer mouse or other infected rodent, if the skin is broken;
• touching rodent urine, saliva, or droppings;
• eating food contaminated by infected deer mouse saliva, urine or droppings.

Hantaviruses are rarely, if ever, spread from person to person and this has never been reported in North America. Hantaviruses are not spread from pets or livestock. However, cats and dogs may bring infected deer mice into contact with humans.

• Keep mice out of your home. Block openings that might allow rodents from entering.
  
• Store human and animal food, water and garbage in containers with tightly fitted lids.
  
• Keep your yard clean, and store woodpiles above the ground and away from the home.
  
• When cleaning your home or community, be aware of animal droppings and nesting materials. If you find any, clean them up safely by:
  
  
  • wearing gloves and appropriate masks;
  • dampening areas contaminated with rodent droppings with bleach disinfectant and removing droppings with a damp mop or cloth to reduce the chance the virus may become airborne, and
  • washing hands thoroughly after cleanup is complete.
    
• Do not sweep or vacuum rodent droppings; this will release particles into the air where they can be breathed in.