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Recent news coverage regarding the Hantavirus cruise ship outbreak has brought the rodent-borne illness back into the national spotlight. While it remains a rare disease, those within the pest management industry must remain vigilant. By focusing on rodent control, we play a vital role in reducing the risk of exposure.
Although recent headlines and media reports may suggest parallels to COVID-19, such comparisons lean toward sensationalism, inadvertently causing unnecessary alarm among the public. The scientific evidence simply does not support the idea that hantavirus has the potential to become a global pandemic. The fact remains that it is a rare disease.
Since the CDC began requiring surveillance and reporting of HPS (hanta pulmonary syndrome), there have been only 890 reported cases. Of those 890 cases of hanta infection, 859 became full blown HPS involving cardiopulmonary issues, and 31 patients showed only positive infection that was non-pulmonary and a mild illness. Of those 859 patients with HPS, 35 percent of infections were fatal. That fatality rate is concerning, and we should continue to invest in treatment research to improve that statistic.
Looking at the epidemiology of who and where HPS occurred, facts show 94 percent of cases occurred west of the Mississippi, primarily in the desert southwest areas of Arizona and New Mexico. The mean age of an infected individual was 39 years old; 62 percent were males; 75 percent were white, non-Latino/Hispanic.
Considering these facts through 2023 it appears that middle-aged white men who hunt, fish, hike or stay in desert southwest areas are far more prone to be exposed than the average population. This doesn’t mean it can’t occur east of the Mississippi, in females, in younger or older people of different races. It does. But rarely.
How are you exposed to Hantavirus?
Hantavirus (Sin Nombre virus in North America and Andes virus in South America) particles are shed by rodents in their droppings, urine and saliva.
Most exposure occurs when individuals attempt to tidy up rodent waste and particles are inhaled. For instance, a hunting lodge or vacation home that has remained unoccupied throughout the winter provides a perfect environment for a rodent infestation. Rural, farming and wooded areas where rodent habitat is greatest are more likely a potential exposure source. Human exposure can also be associated with a bite or scratch from a rodent.
In the western United States, the primary rodent associated with the virus is the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and in the eastern United States, it is the white footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus).
The Andes virus of South America is the only Hantavirus strain ever associated with person-to-person transmission in close contact and the one associated with the recent cruise line concern. The cruise currently in the news originated in Argentina. Per the latest news reports, “patient zero” (the first person on the ship to test positive) was orthinologist Leo Schilperoord, who was bird-watching on a landfill that had an active infestation of long-tailed pygmy rice rats (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus).
Should people avoid cruises?
Travelers should not hesitate to book a cruise. All forms of mass transit, including cruise ships, airplanes and trains, undergo regular pest management and fumigation cycles to eliminate potential rodents and other vermin during downtime. Despite the unresolved details surrounding the recent cruise ship incident, these modes of transportation remain safe for your travel.
What are the symptoms of Hantavirus?
It can take up to eight weeks for exposure to these particles to manifest themselves as symptoms. Unfortunately, symptoms may initially mimic other illnesses like influenza in the form of fever, chills, body aches, nausea, etc., and may be misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed for a period when supportive care would be most beneficial. A blood test can reveal the hantavirus IgG antibody definitively for diagnosticians that are on the ball and suspect it.
Hantavirus prevention: What are the facts?
Although not zero, the risk of acquiring Hantavirus is incredibly low.
Exposure can be eliminated by adopting effective rodent control measures including exclusion and sealing of areas conducive to rodent entry and activity, trapping, use of sealed trash receptacles, and storage of attractive foods in hard glass or airtight containers.
Avoidance of rodent waste and nests is paramount for homeowners, hikers, hunters and others. When cleaning rodent waste, it’s critically important to wear gloves and an N95 mask. Wet down any droppings with a weak ammonia solution prior to sweeping or cleaning up the excrement, as this prevents the particles from becoming aerosolized and potentially being inhaled.
