Department of Health and Human Services Announces State's First Suspect Case of Hantavirus

NH Department of Health and Human Services • Public Information Office
Press Release • Posted 09/30/04 • (603) 271-6526 

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) announces a suspect case of Hantavirus in the State. A male Merrimack County resident is believed to have contracted the illness while on vacation in Errol, New Hampshire.

"While hantavirus can be a serious illness, it is not transmissible from person to person," said Dr. Jesse Greenblatt, State Epidemiologist. "We are conducting investigations to confirm the case and are doing environmental investigations."

Hantavirus was first recognized 1993 in the southwestern United States. It is spread when infected rodents, such as mice, shed the virus through droppings, urine, or saliva. People can then become infected by breathing in aerosolized droppings containing the virus.

Symptoms usually occur within two weeks of exposure and can include fever, muscle aches, dizziness, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Hantavirus can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in extreme cases, which may result in respiratory failure and death. There is no specific cure.

Hantavirus can remain in the environment for extended periods of time. It is important to take precautions against coming into contact with rodent droppings. The best precautions are to seal up holes through which mice (or other rodents) can enter, trap any mice, and always clean rodent-infested areas carefully:

• Wear rubber, latex, or vinyl gloves when cleaning
• Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or other means
• Thoroughly wet contaminated areas with a bleach solution or household disinfectant, such as a solution of 1 1/2 cups bleach to one gallon of water
• Once everything is wet, take up contaminated materials with a damp towel and then mop or sponge the area with bleach or a household disinfectant
• Spray any dead rodents with disinfectant and then double-bag them along with cleaning materials
• Disinfect gloves with disinfectant or soap and water before taking them off
• Thoroughly wash hands with soap and warm water after taking off gloves
• When sweeping basements, sheds, or garages even if you do not suspect the presence of rodents, wear a mask.

"It is always best to treat wild animals with caution," said Dr. Greenblatt, "and this is just another example of steps we can take to minimize our exposure to diseases present in our environment and in animals."

For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.