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Mesa County Warns of Hantavirus

by KREX News Room
by Jordan Sherman

Story Created: Mar 14, 2013 at 12:53 PM MDT

Story Updated: Mar 14, 2013 at 4:45 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The Mesa County Health Department has issued a warning for the potential contraction of hantavirus during Spring cleaning this year.

Hantavirus is commonly found in deer mice droppings, urine and saliva.

Humans can become infected by the virus by breathing in dust where rodents have defecated.

"A couple of ways that people can prevent this; they can open up and ventilate rooms in the building for 30 to 60 minutes prior to cleaning. Also, making sure that your plugging rodent holes within your structure as well," said Tamara Capp, communication specialist with the Mesa County Health Department.

Symptoms include fatigue, fever, muscle pain, headaches, dizziness, chills, abdominal pain, however, prolonged infection will lead to coughing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

Symptoms can occur from a few days to as long as six weeks after exposure.

The mortality rate for hantavirus is 38 percent.

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Hmmm said on Thursday, Mar 14 at 1:41 PM

Deer mice carry the Hantavirus. typo mess up. Deer do not carry the virus.

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