The Wyoming Department of Health is urging residents to take precautions against hantavirus during spring cleaning, as detailed on April 8, 2025. The rare but potentially deadly disease, spread by infected deer mice, poses a risk when cleaning cabins, sheds, garages, and other closed spaces where rodents may have been active over winter.
Infectious disease epidemiologist Courtney Tillman explained that hantavirus is contracted by breathing in virus particles from mouse droppings, urine, or saliva, often stirred up during sweeping or vacuuming. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, and coughing, with a 38% fatality rate for those developing respiratory issues. Tillman advised ventilating spaces for 30 minutes, avoiding sweeping, wearing gloves and an N95 respirator, disinfecting with a bleach solution, wiping up droppings with paper towels, sealing waste in plastic bags, and thoroughly washing hands.
Immediate medical attention is recommended for symptoms following rodent exposure. More information on hantavirus prevention is available on the Wyoming Department of Health website.
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