What kind of mice hantavirus

The cotton rat inhabits overgrown areas with shrubs and tall grasses. It inhabits overgrown areas with shrubs and tall grasses. The deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus is a deceptively cute animal, with big eyes and ears. Its head and body measure approximately 2—3 inches 5cm—7.

In color, the deer mouse ranges from grey to reddish brown, depending on age. The underbelly is always white and the tail has clearly defined white sides.

The deer mouse is found throughout North America, preferring woodlands, but also appearing in desert areas. The rice rat Oryzomys palustris is slightly smaller than the cotton rat, with a 5—6 inch 7. It has short, soft, grayish-brown fur on top, and gray or tawny underbellies. Their feet are whitish. The rice rat prefers marshy areas and is semi-aquatic.

It is found in the southeastern US and Central America. Some patients may be given anti-viral drugs. In Canada, the virus has been found only in wild mice, specifically the deer mouse found across North America.

Other rodents, such as house mice, roof rats and Norway rats are not known to spread the virus. Hantavirus is mainly spread when deer mouse droppings, urine, saliva, or nesting materials are disturbed, sending virus particles into the air where they can be breathed in. In rare cases, it may be spread through small breaks in the skin when handling a wild mouse, or by mouse bites. You cannot catch the disease from your domestic pet.

In North America, there is no evidence that the disease spreads from person to person. People who live in areas where the virus is present, and who come in close contact with the saliva, urine, droppings or nests of deer mice, may be at risk of catching the virus. However, the chances of this happening are extremely low. Rodent infestation in and around the home remains the main risk for contact with hantavirus.

Certain activities may put you at a higher risk of getting infected with HPS, such as cleaning unused buildings, and working on construction, utility and pest control. Workers and homeowners can be exposed in crawl spaces, under houses, or in vacant or occasional use buildings, such as cottages, trailers and garden sheds, that may have mice.

Campers and hikers can also be exposed when they use infested trail shelters or camp in other deer mouse habitats. The chance of being exposed to hantavirus is higher if you work, play, or live in closed spaces where deer mice are living actively.

On rare occasions, some people who have contracted HPS reported that they had not seen mice or their droppings before becoming ill. You should take precautions even if you do not see the deer mice or their droppings. The best ways to prevent infection from hantavirus is to avoid contact with deer mice, their droppings, urine, or saliva.

You can do this by controlling rodents in and around the home. Keep mice out of your home and learn how to clean up safely. Follow the instructions below on how to prevent and remove mice from your home, and to safely clean areas where mice have been. Contact your local public health unit before you clean up the home of someone who has HPS. Use spring loaded traps to remove rodents from buildings. Dispose of them in sealed, double plastic garbage bags. You should check with local by-laws or authorities to find out the most appropriate method of disposal.

For example, you may be able to bury the garbage bags in a hole 0. If you plan to reuse the traps, disinfect them with a mixture of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water, after dead mice have been removed. After you inhale hantaviruses, they reach your lungs and begin to invade tiny blood vessels called capillaries, eventually causing them to leak. Your lungs then flood with fluid, which can trigger any of the respiratory problems associated with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

People who become infected with the North American strain of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome aren't contagious to other people. However, certain outbreaks in South America have shown evidence of being transmitted from person to person, which illustrates variation across strains in different regions.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is most common in rural areas of the western United States during the spring and summer months. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome also occurs in South America and Canada. Other hantaviruses occur in Asia, where they cause kidney disorders rather than lung problems.

The chance of developing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is greater for people who work, live or play in spaces where rodents live. Factors and activities that increase the risk include:.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can quickly become life-threatening. As the lungs fill with fluid, breathing becomes more and more difficult. Blood pressure drops and organs begin to fail, particularly the heart. Keeping rodents out of your home and workplace can help reduce your risk of hantavirus infection. Try these tips:. Wet down dead rodents and areas where rodents have been with alcohol, household disinfectants or bleach.

This kills the virus and helps prevent infected dust from being stirred up into the air. Once everything is wet, use a damp towel to pick up the contaminated material. Then mop or sponge the area with disinfectant. Take special precautions, such as wearing a respirator, when cleaning buildings with heavy rodent infestations. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.