Hantavirus of Rodents

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare viral disease associated with wild deer mice. It occurs primarily in the fall when rodents move indoors to escape the cold.

In the process of the human body attacking the virus in the linings of blood vessels throughout the body, the capillaries are damaged and leak (increased permeability).

In humans this causes life-threatening pneumonia, edema, bleeding, fever and kidney failure. Infected mice pass the virus in urine, saliva and feces.

 Although not a serious disease in rodent the disease in humans is often fatal. People contract the disease by breathing in aerosolized or pulverized virus in rodent urine and feces.

Rodent control around the home is the best way to protect against this disease.