Rats are NOT toys or safe==Warnings about Hantavirus.
Public Health Alerts from Alberta {canada} government Health Dept about Hantavirus:
November 25, 2004
Precautions against Hantavirus recommended
Edmonton ... Alberta's Deputy Provincial Health Officer is advising Albertans to take basic precautions to avoid contracting hantavirus, a potentially fatal infection from mouse droppings, urine or saliva.
Dr. Karen Grimsrud issued the caution after a hantavirus case was recorded in an adult male within the East Central Health Region last week. It is the first case of hantavirus confirmed in Alberta since December 2002. Since 1989, there have been 28 confirmed cases of hantavirus in the province, with eight deaths reported.
"Albertans should be aware they need to take special care in locations that may expose them to mice as they may carry the hantavirus," said Dr. Grimsrud. "There are likely infected mice in all regions of Alberta. People should take a few common sense precautions when disposing of mice, or cleaning up droppings, to minimize the risk of infection."
A few simple steps can reduce the risk of infection:
* Minimize the presence of all mice by reducing the availability of food sources or nesting materials, and prevent mice from entering the home.
* When disposing of mice or droppings:
o Use rubber gloves.
o Ventilate enclosed areas before cleaning.
o Spray the droppings or the mouse with disinfectant or diluted bleach, then place them in a sealed bag and put the bag in a garbage can or bury them.
o Disturb the mouse or droppings as little as possible. Do not sweep or use a vacuum cleaner to remove them in an enclosed space.
The mouse population is high this year because of a wet summer and an ample food supply, which may lead to increased contact between infected mice and humans. Therefore, taking precautions is even more important.
The only confirmed carrier of the hantavirus in Alberta is the deer mouse. Deer mice are sandy brown in colour along their head, back and upper tail, but always have white fur on the chin, belly, legs, feet and underside of the tail.
Because it is not always easy to determine what kind of mouse a person is exposed to (particularly when the only evidence is droppings), all mice should be treated as potential carriers.
Anyone who develops severe flu-like symptoms or difficulty breathing and has recently been in an area contaminated by mice should see a doctor immediately.
If a person is infected, the disease generally appears in one or two weeks but can take six weeks to appear. Symptoms resemble severe flu, including fever, body aches, chills, and troubled breathing. In severe cases, hantavirus can cause death.
"Hantavirus infection is rare," said Dr. Grimsrud, "and only affects a small portion of people who come into contact with mice, or their droppings, urine or saliva. The risk of contracting the infection can be reduced even further by exercising caution."
Information on hantavirus is available on the Alberta Health and Wellness website at www.health.gov.ab.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
John Tuckwell
Communications
Alberta Health and Wellness
(780) 427-7164
Dr. Karen Grimsrud
Deputy Provincial Health Officer
Alberta Health and Wellness
(780) 427-5263
Dial 310-0000 for toll free access outside Edmonton
Access is available on-line at http://www.health.gov.ab.ca
