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For Immediate Release Thursday, June 30, 2005
First Hantavirus Case Recorded in Boulder County
BOULDER-Boulder County’s first case of hantavirus was confirmed yesterday,
raising the statewide total to 8 cases. Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) is
currently investigating the case to determine how the 24 year-old male was
infected.
The patient presented to Boulder Community Hospital’s emergency department on
June 15th complaining of high fever, chills, headache, and neck pain. The
patient has fully recovered and was discharged from the hospital on June 21st.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a respiratory disease caused by a virus that is
carried most often by a particular type of mouse, the deer mouse. The virus can
infect humans when they inhale dirt and dust contaminated with deer mice urine
and feces. This can occur when people have contact with infected mice or stir up
dust while working in or cleaning out rodent-infested structures such as barns,
garages, storage sheds, trailers, or cabins.
Heath Harmon, a Boulder County Public Health epidemiologist, urges people to be
particularly careful when there is evidence of an active mouse infestation, such
as the presence of mouse droppings or nests, damage caused by mice, or live mice
being seen in and around the buildings or nearby wood or junk piles.
Harmon said, "The best way to reduce the risk of hantavirus infection is
avoiding rodents, especially deer mice. The wet spring months have increased the
vegetation in many parts of the state, which has lead to an increase in the
mouse population. If you are seeing rodents in or around your home, you need to
do some rodent proofing and control.”
There are four steps to hantavirus prevention: rodent-proof homes and buildings
to keep mice out; eliminate rodent hiding places and food supplies; conduct
rodent control; and when cleaning rodent-infested structures, use special
precautions.
The following precautions are recommended to provide protection against
hantavirus:
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Before cleaning out rodent-infested structures, open doors
or windows to provide good ventilation for 30 to 60 minutes. Avoid stirring
up dust by spraying mouse droppings, nest materials, and carcasses with a
mixture of bleach and water. A bleach mixture of one cup of bleach per
gallon of water is recommended.
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Thoroughly soak down potentially contaminated areas with the
bleach mixture.
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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 it in an outdoor garbage can or landfill.
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In cases of severe infestation, or when ventilation and dust
suppression are not possible, use a rubber face mask equipped with a high
efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
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Seal any holes or openings larger than 1/4 inch to prevent
mice from entering a building.
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Store food, including pet food and livestock feed, and
garbage in rodent-proof containers. Rodent populations are determined by the
availability of food sources, so just eliminating food supplies will reduce
the number of mice.
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Remove rodent hiding places such as wood, junk, and brush
piles. Store firewood at least 100 feet from the house. Keep bushes and
vegetation around structures well trimmed and grass cut short.
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In rural areas or structures with mice infestations, rodent
control, using traps and poisons, should be conducted on a year round basis.
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When camping, avoid sleeping on bare ground. Instead, use
tents with floors or cots.
Symptoms of hantavirus develop within 1-6 weeks after the exposure but most
commonly within 2-4 weeks. During the first 3 to 7 days of illness, symptoms
typically include fever; chills; headache; muscle pain in the shoulders, lower
back, and thighs; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; and dizziness. These symptoms are
usually followed by an abrupt onset of respiratory complications characterized
by cough and shortness of breath. Respiratory symptoms progress very rapidly
and require prompt medical attention.
For more information:
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