Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- August 7, 2007

Hantavirus threat requires precautions in dealing with mice droppings (:49)

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Suggested Intro:

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECENTLY CONFIRMED A SERIOUS ILLNESS FROM HANTAVIRUS INFECTION IN CLEARFIELD COUNTY, AND A WILDLIFE EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A RARE DISEASE, PENNSYLVANIA CITIZENS SHOULD KNOW HOW TO AVOID IT. MORE FROM GARY ABDULLAH:

Story:

(:10) THIS IS ONLY THE STATE'S THIRD HANTAVIRUS INFECTION IN TEN YEARS, BUT TWO DEATHS HAVE RESULTED FROM THE VIRUS, WHICH IS SPREAD BY DEER MICE AND OTHER WILD RODENTS, PRIMARILY IN RURAL AREAS.

(:10) PENN STATE WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST GARY SAN JULIAN SAYS THE DISEASE CAN ALSO BE AN URBAN THREAT WHEN MICE GET INTO SHEDS, BASEMENTS OR GARAGES. HE RECOMMENDS CAUTION WHEN REMOVING MOUSE DROPPINGS:

San Julian Actuality:
(:17) "LET IT AIR OUT FOR 30 TO 60 MINUTES, AND, IF YOU FIND MICE DROPPINGS OR YOU FIND NESTING MATERIAL, YOU WANT TO SPRAY THAT WITH A TEN PERCENT BLEACH SOLUTION OR DISINFECTANT. AND, SOAK IT PRETTY GOOD AND LET IT SET FOR A WHILE."

(:12) SAN JULIAN SAYS NEVER SWEEP OR VACUUM THE DROPPINGS -- THAT PUTS INFECTIOUS MATTER INTO THE AIR, WHERE IT CAN BE INHALED. THE BEST BET IS TO CLEAN WITH PAPER TOWELS OR RAGS, WHILE WEARING RUBBER GLOVES. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

TAKE PRECAUTIONS FOR RODENT-SPREAD VIRUS WHEN CLEANING OUT CAMPS (from the College of Agricultural Sciences news archive)

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