Truly Nolen’s Svenheim Provides a Primer on Hantavirus and Deer Mice

Editor's note: Truly Nolen Pest Control submitted the following article on hantavirus in the news leading to an increase in call volume, and why a pest management professional's role is essential in treating residential properties for disease-spreading pests.

TUCSON, Ariz. – With hantavirus in the news recently, the call volume has increased at Truly Nolen’s offices with people looking for tips on how to keep this rare but potentially fatal virus at bay. In fact, Scott Svenheim, the company's hybrid education facilitator, who has been with Truly Nolen for almost 39 years and is also a board certified entomologist, said he is not surprised about the call increase.

“While the only two mice that could carry hantavirus into a structure are deer mice and the white-footed mouse, the general proliferation of mice over the last five years, which causes them to become less seasonal and more year-round pests, unfortunately does lead to more potentially fatal hantavirus situations,” said Svenheim. “Cotton rats and rice rats can also carry hantavirus, but they are not a concern for homeowners since they do not reside in structures.”

Svenheim said the general area where those two mice are found is the “Four Corners” portion of the United States, but they have been spotted in other parts of the northern United States and Canada, too.

As pest management professionals know, hantavirus can spread to humans that come into contact with an infected mouse's urine, droppings or saliva. It may take weeks for signs of the disease to develop after a victim has come into contact with an infected mouse. Early symptoms of hantavirus include fever, aches and pains, chills, and dizziness. Once the illness has progressed, it results in coughing, shortness of breath and fluid filling the lungs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anyone who thinks they might have been infected should seek medical attention.

PMPs can provide homeowners with simple steps for avoiding hantavirus, including storing food in airtight containers and keeping homes clean and free of clutter and trash, which will give mice less of a reason to enter the home.  “However, as a precaution, any holes or gaps that could provide entry to the home should be closed off, no matter how small they appear. Mice, for example, need only a tiny space to enter a home, potentially bringing hantavirus with them,” Svenheim said.

Svenheim added, “Those who come across a room or structure infested with mice should take precautions to avoid picking up the disease. These recommended precautions include wearing gloves and proper respiratory protection during any handling and cleaning tasks. A building with a mouse problem should have the windows opened to air out the space, but caution should be taken so an individual does not disturb any dust. Areas covered in mice droppings or urine should be sprayed with a disinfectant and left to sit for several minutes before cleaning. The waste should be tightly sealed and thrown out immediately.”

In addition to the above tips, Svenheim explains when he believes a pest control professional is essential.

“The same process applies to those who find a dead mouse in their home. The mice should be sprayed, bagged and tossed,” Svenheim said.  “If live pests are discovered, they should not be touched. A mouse infestation should be handled by pest control professionals who can ensure they will no longer pose a threat to the household.”