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A rare case of human hantavirus has killed a young man in Duchesne County. Health officials say the illness was caused by cleaning up rodent droppings.
The Tri-County Health Department says the man in his 20s became sick with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and went to the hospital Sept. 2. He died the next day. The man was otherwise healthy, but was suffering classic symptoms of hantavirus, which include fever, fatigue and muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups.
Spokesperson Jeramie Tubbs says it's believed the man was exposed when he was cleaning up rodent droppings, which can carry hantavirus.
"Prevention is the key, because once you have it there's really not a lot they can do for it," she said.
The last confirmed case in Utah was in 2004. From 2000 to 2007, there were a total of 13 confirmed hantavirus cases in Utah, two of which were fatal. The health department says while hantavirus infections in Utah are rare, they still do occur and can be serious.
The best way to prevent hantavirus is to eliminate or minimize contact with rodents or their droppings. The health department offers the following tips to help eliminate or minimize risk of exposure:
- Remove brush, grass and garbage from around building foundations to get rid of commonly used nesting materials.
- Keep tight-fitting lids on garbage cans.
- Store all food (including pet food) in rodent-proof containers.
- Do not leave open bowls of pet food outside. Properly dispose of uneaten pet food.
- When going into an enclosed space that has been shut for a long time and smells like mice, air it out before you go in.
- Clean up rodent droppings using a wet method such as spraying disinfectant (diluted bleach) prior to cleaning, then use a wet mop or towel to moistened with disinfectant to clean.
- Do not clean up rodent droppings using a dry method such as sweeping and vacuuming.
- Wear gloves, a dust mask, long-sleeved clothing and protective eyewear while cleaning up or in areas where there are rodent droppings.
- If you run across dead rodents, disinfect them, double bag them, and either bury, burn or throw them away.
E-mail: bbruce@ksl.com
