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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffMinimize or eliminate contact with rodents to help prevent exposure to the hantavirus. Although only certain rodent species are known to carry hantavirus, it's best to minimize contact with all rodents, because others may carry pathogens that cause various illnesses.
Take these steps to help prevent hantavirus infection:
- Keep dwellings clean and rodent-free.
- Avoid contact with all rodents — including urban rats — and their droppings.
- Disinfect dead rodents before handling and disposing of them.
- Neutralize rodent droppings or urine with household disinfectants before sweeping or vacuuming.
- Take special precautions, such as wearing a respirator, when cleaning buildings with heavy rodent infestations.
- Dermody TS. Infectious diseases and their etiologic agents. In: Mandell, GL, et al. Mandell, Bennett, & Dolin: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005:2086.
- Shafts C. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008: 380.
- Brown D, et al. Zoonotic viruses. In: Cohen J, et al. Cohen & Powderly: Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2004:2095.
- Hantavirus infection. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec17/ch198/ch198j.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2008.
- Hjelle B. Epidemiology and diagnosis of hantavirus infections. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2008.
- Hjelle B. Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 21, 2008.
- All about hantaviruses: How do I prevent HPS? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/prevent.htm. Accessed Dec. 21, 2008.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo
