As Canadians engage in seasonal tidying, health officials are urging precautions against hantavirus transmitted by rodents. When decluttering sheds, cottages, cabins, and garages, Canadians are advised to be well-equipped to stay safe, particularly in light of a recent fatal hantavirus outbreak on a luxury cruise ship.
Residents are advised to be vigilant for rodent droppings and take appropriate measures during spring cleaning, according to virologist Angela Rasmussen from the University of Saskatchewan. She emphasized the potential transmission of hantaviruses by mice during cleaning activities in Canada.
Health officers, such as Dr. Bonnie Henry from British Columbia, warn that the disease can be contracted by humans through dried rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. Dr. Henry highlighted the risk of droppings and urine becoming airborne particles when residents clean out cottages before summer.
In Canada, the Public Health Agency identifies the deer mouse, white-footed mouse, and red-backed vole as carriers of hantavirus, typically found in rural and wooded regions. Farmers, cottagers, and homeowners are at higher risk, as noted in a recent warning by Saskatchewan’s health authority.
To minimize exposure, health experts recommend sealing rodent entry points, maintaining clean surroundings, storing wood away from buildings, and using mousetraps in cottages, cabins, and sheds. Proper ventilation and personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves are essential when encountering rodent droppings.
Cleaning methods involve airing out spaces, avoiding sweeping or vacuuming droppings, and using disinfectants before wiping up contaminated areas. Residents are advised to wash their hands thoroughly after cleaning and properly disinfect any tools used during the process.