A Western harvesting mouse collected in routine monitoring in open spaces along the Santee and San Diego borders yielded positive results for hantavirus, county environmental health officials said this week.
County officials remind people that if they find rodents in their homes, garages, warehouses, or cabins, they should never sweep or vacuum, but instead use “wet cleaning” methods to avoid to breathe and get sick.
Hantavirus is not uncommon in San Diego County; can cause fatal infections in humans and there is no vaccine or treatment. However, humans are rarely exposed to hantavirus, as the main carriers are wild rodents that prefer to live in the wild away from humans.
People can be exposed to hantavirus when wild rodents pour it into urine, feces and saliva, the matter dries and is agitated in the air, where people can breathe it. By 2020, the health of the county environment has collected 25 rodents that tested positive for hantavirus.
County officials said wet cleaning methods include the use of bleach, disinfectants, gloves and rubber bags.
Here are some tips for people to prevent exposure to wild rodents and hantavirus and how to use wet cleaning methods.
Avoid exposure to Hantavirus
- Seal all external holes in houses, garages and warehouses larger than a penny to prevent rodents from entering.
- Eliminate rodent infestations immediately.
- Avoid rodent-infested areas and do not mix dust or materials that may be contaminated with rodent droppings and urine.
- Clean rodent feces and urine using the wet cleaning method described below.
Use “wet cleaning” methods to prevent inhalation of the virus
- Do not sweep or vacuum the infested areas.
- Ventilate the affected area by opening the doors and windows for at least 30 minutes.
- Wear rubber gloves. Spray a 10% bleach solution or other disinfectant on dead rodents, rodent droppings, nests, contaminated traps and surrounding areas, and allow the disinfectant to stand for at least 15 minutes before cleaning.
- Clean with a sponge or mop that has been soaked in disinfectant.
- Place the rodents and disinfected debris in two plastic bags, seal them and throw them in the trash.
- Wash the gloves in a bleach solution, then soap and water and discard them using the same double bag method.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
For more information, contact the County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) at (858) 694-2888 or visit DEH hantavirus website.