Health officials are raising awareness of a virus spread by mice. The Sin Nombre hantavirus has been confirmed in an infection in a woman from Washtenaw County. The virus comes from rodents and causes serious pulmonary illness. The infected woman is believed to have contracted the virus when cleaning an empty house that had mice in it.
Most cases of the hantavirus are associated with people who have come in contact with rodents through domestic, occupational, or recreational activities.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said that the virus is rare but severe and sometimes fatal. The respiratory disease can occur one to five weeks after a person has exposure to infected rodents or their droppings. Suspected cases should be reported to local health departments.
According to MDHHS, the highest risk of infection comes from entering or cleaning rodent-infected structures. Common household cleaners can kill the virus. Ventilation helps decrease the risk of exposure. Wearing gloves when cleaning also reduces the risk.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
