Prevention

Hantavirus prevention and rodent control

Hantavirus reaches humans almost exclusively through inhalation of aerosolised rodent excreta. Practical prevention focuses on three things: keeping rodents out, cleaning safely when you do find evidence of them, and responding quickly to known high-risk exposures.

1. Rodent-proof your home and outbuildings

  • ▪Seal holes larger than a quarter-inch (6 mm) around foundations, vents, pipe penetrations and rooflines using steel wool packed with caulk, hardware cloth or sheet metal.
  • ▪Store food, animal feed, pet food and grain in rodent-proof containers with tight-fitting lids.
  • ▪Trap mice and rats with snap traps. Avoid live traps and glue boards in suspected hantavirus areas because they prolong human contact.
  • ▪Clear brush, woodpiles, junk and tall grass within 30 m of buildings — these provide cover and nesting habitat.
  • ▪Inspect cabins, sheds, barns and garages for fresh droppings, gnaw marks or nests before sweeping or moving stored items.

2. Clean contaminated areas safely

Sweeping or vacuuming dry rodent waste creates breathable dust that can carry hantavirus. Always wet down the area first.

  1. Air out the closed space for at least 30 minutes by opening doors and windows before entry.
  2. Wear waterproof gloves, an N95 or P2 respirator (or higher), goggles and disposable shoe covers.
  3. Spray droppings, nests and dead rodents with a 1:10 household bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) or an EPA-registered disinfectant. Let it soak for at least five minutes.
  4. Wipe up with paper towels and place everything — including the towels and any rodents — in a sealed plastic bag, then a second sealed bag, and dispose of with regular trash.
  5. Mop or sponge surrounding floors and surfaces with the disinfectant. Do not vacuum or sweep dry.
  6. Wash gloves before removing them, then remove and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

3. Reduce risk during outdoor activity

  • ▪Pitch tents on rodent-free ground; avoid sleeping on bare soil in known endemic areas.
  • ▪Store food in sealed containers and hang trash off the ground while camping.
  • ▪Forestry workers, farmers, pest controllers and military personnel in endemic areas should follow employer respiratory protection programmes.
  • ▪People who keep pet rats should follow national guidance (CDC, UKHSA) on Seoul virus screening.

If you may have been exposed

Symptoms typically appear 1 to 8 weeks after exposure. Early signs are non-specific (fever, fatigue, muscle aches), so tell any clinician you see about your potential rodent or pet rat contact.

If breathing difficulty, persistent high fever or sudden severe back pain develop, seek emergency medical care immediately. Survival in HPS depends on rapid intensive care.

For person-to-person Andes virus exposure (close household contact with a confirmed case), follow public health guidance on isolation and active monitoring.

Sources: U.S. CDC Hantavirus prevention guidance, ECDC factsheet, WHO and PAHO outbreak guidance.
Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only. Local public health authorities issue the binding guidance for your area.