Facts About Hantavirus
The discovery of the hantavirus in Orange County has spurred hundreds of calls to health officials from people wanting to know more. A primer on the virus:
*Question: What is a hantavirus?
Answer: Hantaviruses are a family of previously identified viruses found in rodents. The virus responsible for the recent U.S. deaths is a new strain, apparently unique to North America. This new strain attacks the lungs, instead of the kidneys as the other strains did, resulting in the disease termed adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
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Q: How is this virus transmitted?
A: It is believed to be principally carried by a common rodent, the deer mouse. The mouse is found throughout North America and in every California county. Infected rodents shed live virus in saliva, feces and urine. Humans are infected when they encounter and inhale aerosolized microscopic particles containing dried urine or feces. Insect bites are not believed to play a role in hantavirus transmission.
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Q: How dangerous is this virus?
A: This strain appears to be extremely dangerous to those who are infected with it. More than half of those believed to be infected have died. The actual mortality rate is likely to be lower, however, because less severe cases probably have gone unrecognized. While dangerous to individuals, its means of transmission is so unusual that most people are highly unlikely to encounter the virus; it poses little threat to the general California population.
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Q: How long does it take to develop symptoms after exposure?
A: Typically one to two weeks, but the range may be as wide as a few days up to six weeks.
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Q: Can people infect each other?
A: There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission. No one believes the virus will start an epidemic. No health care workers have been infected while caring for infected patients.
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Q: What are the symptoms?
A Typical cases of ARDS initially seem similar to the flu: high fever, muscle aches, cough and headache. After several days, respiratory problems worsen rapidly. The lungs fill with fluid and victims die of respiratory failure.
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Q: Is there any treatment?
A: So far there is no generally effective treatment. Physicians have been administering ribavirin, an antiviral drug, experimentally to suspected victims. Too few people have been treated to draw any conclusions about its effectiveness.
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Q: Is the disease present in California?
A: Yes, two people in the state have died within the last 12 months of hantavirus ARDS, one in Mono County and one in Santa Barbara County. Both had close contact with rodents, including deer mice, in rural locations.
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Q: Should people set out traps to catch the mice?
A: Mice and rats should not be allowed in buildings. Snap traps (not cage traps) can be used, but direct contact with the animal and its droppings should be avoided. Traps should be disinfected or disposed of with the dead animal.
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Q: Is it safe to go camping?
A: Yes, but it is important to avoid contact with animals, their burrows, nests and, especially, their droppings.
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Q: Is it OK to take pets along on my camping trip?
A: It is better to leave pets at home or in a kennel for their own safety and yours. If pets must be taken, they should always be confined or on a leash.
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Q: Who should be contacted for more information?
A: For more information on the virus or deer mice, call the Orange County Vector Control District at (714) 971-2421 or the Orange County Health Care Agency at (714) 834-8180. People who are ill and are concerned are advised to contact their physician.
Source: California Department of Health Services
