Hantavirus

Description	Deadly disease from rodent bites or ingesting their excrement
Location	Worldwide
Cause	Rodent excrement and contaminated food
Symptoms	Ferbile illnesses (fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, lower back pain) with kidney, blood or respiratory ailments, sometimes fatal
Treatment	Seek medical attention from a physician
Prevention	Wear surgical gloves and masks when handling rodents. Campsites and cabins should properly dispose of mice and rodents before they are occupied. Spray premises with detergents or diluted bleach before thorough cleaning. Avoid dry sweeping and vacuuming the infected area as airborne particles could be produced.
Handling Animals	Infected animals shed virus in their urine, feces and saliva and can be chronically infected.
Other Facts	A possible new hantavirus was discovered in 1983 with the first cases reported in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. A deer mouse may have infected the people.

Critter Control