Three deer mice collected in East County tested positive for hantavirus
By SDCN
San Diego, CA–Three deer mice collected in the East County on November 1 have tested positive for hantavirus, county officials said.
The rodents were collected near Mount Laguna during a routine monitoring by county health. This is the 13th routine detection of hantavirus in the region this year.
According to county officials, hantavirus in wild rodents is common in San Diego County. Human exposure to the virus is rare, however, individuals can be exposed to the virus when rodents invade their homes, garages, and sheds. Residents should take precautions when cleaning those areas.
Infected rodents shed the hantavirus in their urine, feces, and saliva. Once the matter dries, the virus can be stirred into the air where people can inhale it. There is no cure or vaccine for hantavirus.
If people find wild rodents, nests, or other signs of rodents in their living spaces, they should always use “wet cleaning” methods—using bleach or other disinfectants, rubber gloves, and bags. They should not sweep or vacuum, which could stir hantavirus into the air where it could be inhaled.
Symptoms of hantavirus usually develop between 1 to 8 weeks after exposure and include severe muscle aches. chills, fever or fatigue, headache or dizziness, nausea, vomiting or stomach pain, and difficulty breathing.
Anyone who may have been exposed to hantavirus should seek medical attention immediately.
