By Times Chronicle Staff

With the ongoing concern around the hantavirus outbreak that occurred on a cruise ship, which claimed the lives of three passengers and now sees four Canadian passengers isolating, Interior Health (IH) is urging people to take basic precautions.

The World Health Organization on May 14 stressed that the risk to the general public is “low” even though the Andean ​strain of hantavirus — found in several people who were on board the impacted cruise ship — can in rare cases be transmitted among humans. 

Hantavirus is a potentially serious infection that is transmitted by some rodents, and in the Interior region in particular, the deer mouse. As IH notes there are different Hantaviruses around the world, but in BC/North American, it is primarily the Sin Nombre Virus which cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

But with spring cleaning on many people’s agenda IH is highlighting that you can get infected with hantavirus when hantaviruses from old rodent droppings and urine are stirred up into the air and then inhaled when sweeping and dusting. 

Risks can be highest when cleaning a shed, attic or cabin that has not been used for a while, or when working in areas where mice may live, such as barns.

Hantaviruses are rare – typically causing one severe case every year in the BC Interior although less severe cases likely go unnoticed and unreported – but can cause a very serious disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS for short). Anyone, healthy or not, can be at risk of HPS, IH notes. 

Some of the first symptoms of HPS to watch out for are fever, fatigue and muscle aches. Other symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, chills and nausea/vomiting/diarrhea.

Staying safe while spring cleaning
To stay safe during your spring-cleaning routine take some simple precautions to minimize the risk of being exposed. These include:

  • Ventilate: Having good ventilation is key to reducing the number of airborne hantaviruses in small spaces. Opening windows and doors at least 30 minutes before and during cleaning can allow fresh air to circulate.
  • Gear up: Wearing a mask – N100, P100, R100 or N95 – will help filter out airborne particles including hantavirus. Paint and dust masks are not adequate, IH notes. Rubber gloves will protect your hands from contaminated surfaces, and goggles will protect your eyes.
  • Clean safely: To protect yourself while cleaning:
  • Avoid stirring up dust as much as possible by using a damp cloth or mop to clean dusty corners, rather than vacuuming or sweeping (which can put particles into the air);
  • If you come across rodent droppings or nests, wet the area with a general-purpose disinfectant, household detergent, or a mixture of bleach and water (one part bleach to 10 parts water). Let the area soak for five minutes prior to cleaning with a damp cloth or paper towel;
  • Throw out the paper towel in a sealed plastic garbage bag. Double bag the contents and place in the garbage;
  • Wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves.
  • Stay informed: Stay up-to-date on any advisories or guidelines issued by Interior Health or local health authority.

More detailed information on symptoms and diagnosis, treatment and prevention of hantavirus can be found on the BC Centre for Disease Control at shorturl.at/DgQl5 (URL shortened for convenience).