HANTAVIRUS INFORMATION Teller County Environmental Health Dept

Transcription

1 HANTAVIRUS INFORMATION Teller County Environmental Health Dept FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2000 CONTACT Cindy Parmenter Office of Communications (303) Airing Out Buildings Vital to Protecting Against Hantavirus DENVER - Colorado s chief medical officer has issued a warning that Coloradoans need to be particularly careful to air out rural buildings, where there is evidence of mice infestation, before beginning to clean them. Dr. Richard Hoffman, the state s chief medical officer and state epidemiologist who is based at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, issued the warning as Colorado recorded its sixth hantavirus case of the year, the highest number to occur in the state in any one year since the disease was identified in Previous high numbers were recorded in 1993 when there were five cases, including four deaths, and in 1998 when there were five cases, including three deaths. So far this year, there have been six cases, including two deaths. Hantavirus is carried by deer mice and occurs primarily in rural parts of Colorado. In the past seven years, cases have occurred in 16 different Colorado counties, mostly on the Western Slope. Colorado s latest hantavirus victim is a 49-year-old woman from Grand County who was first hospitalized in Kremmling and then was moved on Saturday, July 1, to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver. She now is being treated at University Hospital in Denver. Hoffman said that prior to becoming ill she had had direct contact with mice and had been in and out of her barn. "People must be extremely careful to thoroughly air out buildings in rural parts of the state where there is evidence of mice infestation before they begin to clean," Hoffman warned. "The department s recent interviews with survivors of the disease and with families of victims show that the victims frequently cleaned such buildings before they became ill but that they didn t air out the structure properly before beginning to work." According to Hoffman, the most important steps that people can take to prevent this disease are to air out closed spaces for at least two hours before working in them and to rodent-proof buildings. Also, he urged Coloradans to plan ahead enough to place poison and mouse traps in outbuildings to reduce the mouse populations before any cleaning begins.

2 The chief medical officer also said that individuals should wear a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter mask when entering a building to open it up initially and, in particular, when cleaning. However, if such a mask is not available, a painters mask or a surgical mask that covers the nose and mouth should be used. Hoffman explained that reducing the mouse population and airing out buildings are crucial because deer mice become frightened and urinate when someone first enters a structure that has been closed. That urine then is sprayed into the air where it can be breathed into the body. Other Colorado hantavirus victims this year include: A 54-year-old woman from rural Adams County who became ill on June 11. She has been released from the hospital and is recovering. A 53-year-old Conejos County man who became ill on May 6 and survived. A 12-year-old Larimer County girl who became ill on April 26 and survived. A 50-year-old Delta County man who became ill on April 20 and died. An 18-year-old Alamosa County man who became ill on April 5 and died. It had been reported originally that the man lived in neighboring Costilla County. Explaining that rodent proofing of buildings should be a year-round endeavor for residents of rural sections of Colorado, Hoffman said the following steps should be taken: Plug holes or other mouse entryways. Conduct year-round rodent control, using traps or poisons, or hire a professional exterminator. Make home or work areas unattractive to rodents. Keep indoor areas clean, especially kitchens. Store food in rodent-proof containers and properly dispose of garbage in sealed containers. This includes pet, livestock and bird food. Removing rodent hiding places such as wood, junk and brush piles. Store firewood at least 100 feet from the house. Keep vegetation around the house well trimmed. Precautions that should be taken only after the building has been thoroughly aired out and when undertaking the cleaning include: Avoid stirring up dust by watering down areas of mouse infestation with a mixture of bleach and water. A bleach mixture of one cup of bleach per gallon of water is recommended. Thoroughly soak down potentially contaminated areas with the bleach mixture. Use rubber gloves to pick up saturated waste, including nesting materials or dead mice. Double bag the waste using plastic bags, and bury or dispose of in an outdoor garbage can or landfill. Disinfect gloves with bleach and water before removing. Wash hands afterwards. In cases of severe infestation, or when ventilation and dust suppression are not possible, use a

3 rubber face mask equipped with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. People camping in rural areas should avoid sleeping on bare ground. Instead, use tents with floors or ground covers. The State Health Department has established a recorded, hantavirus hotline with more information on the disease and prevention measures. The hotline is (303) Colorado residents also can call the State Health Department at to receive a brochure on hantavirus. Answers to frequently asked questions about hantavirus, including a picture of a deer mouse, can also be found on the department s web page at Q. I've been hearing about Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in the news recently? What is it? HPS is a serious respiratory disease carried by certain wild rodents, mainly deer mice, and is passed to humans through contact with a rodent=s infected urine, droppings or saliva. Breathing in contaminated mist or dust is the most common form of transmission. Q. How serious is it? HPS is extremely serious and can be fatal; the case fatality rate is high. As of June 19, 1998, there have been 185 cases recognized nationwide with a case fatality of 44 percent. In Colorado, there have been 13 cases resulting in 9 deaths for a fatality rate of 69 percent. Q. Is there more risk of HPS this year due to the wet weather? This year there have been increased populations of some rodent hosts of hantaviruses in some areas because of increased vegetation resulting from wetter than usual weather. This increase is unlikely to be statewide, but in order to prevent HPS, precaution is recommended. As always, if you notice increased numbers of wild mice in rural areas, steps should be taken to minimize human contact with these rodents. Q. Who can get HPS? Since the virus is carried by deer mice and other wild rodents, persons who are exposed to infected rodents or rodent-infested areas are at risk of contracting HPS. This would include persons living or working in rural or semirural areas of Colorado. Deer mice and other rodents that carry HPS are generally not found in urban or suburban settings. Q. How can one get HPS? The infected rodents excrete the virus in their urine, droppings, and saliva. These droppings contaminate dirt and dust that becomes airborne. People are infected by inhaling airborne particles of the virus or by direct contact with rodents, their droppings, or nests. Q. What is the incubation period? The incubation period varies widely, but ranges from 1 to 6 weeks, with an average of 2-3 weeks. Q. What are the symptoms? The early symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle pain, severe abdominal, joint and lower back pain, nausea and vomiting. A cough and shortness of breath usually develops 1 to 5 days after the onset of symptoms. The primary symptom of HPS is difficulty in breathing due to fluid build-up in the lungs. This can quickly progress to respiratory failure.

4 Q. How is HPS treated? Currently there is no effective drug treatment for HPS. When HPS infection is suspected or confirmed, early admission to a hospital where careful monitoring, treatment of symptoms, and good supportive therapy can be provided is important. If you have had exposure to rodents and experience symptoms mentioned above, it would be helpful to mention the exposure to your physician. A quick diagnosis helps the physician take the appropriate measures in managing the patient. Q. How can HPS be prevented? A. By getting rid of rodents in and around the home: Rodent-Proof House, Shop and Barn Best long-term solution! Even if the structure can=t be completely rodentproofed, the number of rodents entering a structure can be reduced Seal holes & cracks 1/4th inch or larger with steel wool, metal sheeting, hardware cloth, or patching plaster Insure weather seals under doors are tight & screens are in good repair Eliminate Food Sources More food = More mice! Limit Possible Nesting Sites Food attracts mice, and food supply affects mouse populations Store pet food, feed and bird seed in metal containers Feed animals only as much as they will consume at one time Feed only in daytime, and remove food and water at night Clean up spilled feed and seed Keep garbage in containers with tight lids Clean dishes and sweep floor daily DO NOT FEED RODENTS Rodents like hiding spots. They avoid open areas where they are more vulnerable to predation Remove rodent hiding places: clutter, junk, brush & wood piles, abandoned vehicles, and construction materials Store hay, woodpiles and equipment 100 feet from buildings Keep grass and vegetation trimmed low within 100 feet of buildings Store firewood up off the ground to prevent burrowing underneath Practice Continuous Rodent Control Trapping and poisoning are more effective if above steps are taken Apply flea powder to rodent burrows, nests, and hiding places to kill fleas which may transmit plague Indoors: use snap traps - allows for easy carcass removal Outdoors: use snap traps, multi-catch traps, or poisons Spray carcasses with disinfectant solution & let soak for 10 minutes Use rubber gloves when handling rodent carcasses Place carcass in bag and deposit in outdoor trash Encourage natural predators (hawks, owls, foxes, non-poisonous snakes, etc.) which consume large numbers of rodents

5 If rodents are present in the home, eliminate them by using "snap-traps" baited with a peanut butter/oatmeal mix. Trapping success will be increased if food sources have been eliminated and entrances to the building sealed to keep new mice from moving in. Continue trapping efforts as long as rodent presence is suspected in the home. 1. Use a solution of household bleach (one cup bleach per gallon of water) to disinfect rodents carcasses before handling. Spray the rodent and trap and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes Wear rubber gloves when handling trapped rodents. Disinfect the gloves and the trap afterward. 2. Air out rodent infested buildings or areas at least 30 minutes before cleaning. Do not sweep or dry vacuum rodent contaminated surfaces which may stir up the dust and allow potentially contaminated dust to be breathed in. Spray contaminated materials with the bleach solution and allow it to soak in 5-10 minutes before cleaning them with a mop, sponge or wet (shop) vacuum. Wear gloves. 3. In heavily rodent infested areas or situations where ventilation and/or wet clean-up can not be effectively done, use a face mask with a high efficiency particulate air (HEAP) filter. 4. When camping or sleeping outdoors, avoid disturbing or sleeping near rodent droppings and/or burrows. Sleep in tents with floors, above ground or on a ground cloth, not directly on the ground. Q. Where can I obtain more information about HPS? Information for Physicians Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Cases By State of Residence, United States - September 10, 1999; Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Cases By State of Residence, United States - Since January 1994; Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, United States Descriptive Demographic Statistics, September 10, 1999 A. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has a hantavirus hotline that provides information about the disease and prevention tips for reducing the risk: Contact the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Information. The number is (303) To obtain a free brochure on Hantavirus call the Center at (303) or toll-free Citizens can also call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hantavirus Hotline at 1-(800) for recorded or faxed information about hantavirus pulmonary syndrome prevention, or link with the CDC web site which has extensive information about hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Information provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention