Hantavirus is a type of virus that is carried by infected rodents and is spread through the vectors’ (rats, squirrels, mice, raccoons and skunks) urine, feces, and saliva. Two cases have recently occurred, although hantavirus is extremely rare, yet when it does occur it can be fatal – there is a 40 percent fatality rate among hantavirus cases on average. The virus is commonly caught by breathing in contaminated air with symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches and fatigue in the initial stage of the disease and fluid build up in the lungs in the late stages causing death. The virus can also be transmitted by direct contact with a rodent or its shedding (feces, urine, saliva, nesting materials) then touching the nose, mouth or ears -but it rarely transferred from being bitten by the infected rodent. When cleaning up rodent feces: wear protective gloves and mask, don’t sweep contaminated areas rather mix bleach and water and use this as cleaning agent to wash up droppings.
gogreenpestcontrol.ca insectandrodentexterminators.com Ladner Tsawwassen Delta B.C., Randy Bilesky BsF CPA RPF
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