> > I'm not scared of rodents, but mice... ugh. Why? Simply because HERE, mice carry a serious, possibly fatal disease (I forget what it's called) that is transmittable to humans... so people tend to be exceptionally weird about even traces of mice.
>
> The Hanta Virus.
>
> > I remember once when my Dad found mouse poop in the shed, and he banned me and my sisters from going near the place until he'd cleaned it up. Yeesh.
>
> We had a similar scare at my high school when I was in grade eleven or twelve-- they almost ended up cancelling classes because they thought there MIGHT be a mouse living in one of the classrooms. I do remember that we were all on "mouse alert"-- if anyone saw a mouse, we were to let everyone know and evacuate the classroom.
>
> > Sundragyn.
>
> Don "I was probably not as afraid as the Hanta Virus as I should have been-- probably because they told us that the early symptoms were like the common cold. I figured, 'The common cold? Who cares?' I still don't know what the big deal about the Hanta Virus is/was-- maybe I should look it up. I even had a mouse living in my house two falls ago..." Monkey
>

You sure you want to know?

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a disease caused by an airborne infectious agent found in rodent saliva, urine, and droppings. It causes acute respiratory distress, where a person's lungs are filled with plasma and he basically drowns in his own fluids. In the FAQ on the www.hantavirus.net site, the answer to the question "Can HPS be fatal?" is "Absolutely. Untreated cases of HPS are almost always fatal."

Oh, joy. This is a modern day version of the bubonic plague all over again. *slight sarcasm* You should see the zero-tolerance CDC recommendations for handling mouse infestations:


Q: HOW DO I clean where mice have fed, nested, or left droppings?

A: Safety Tips for preventing HPS. Follow these steps when cleaning rodent-infested areas.

1. Wear latex or rubber gloves before cleaning up.
2. Mix a hypochlorite solution of 1 cup bleach to 10 cups water, or use a household disinfectant that kills viruses.
3. Don't stir up dust by sweeping up or vacuuming up droppings, urine or nesting materials. This may spread the virus through the air. Use rags, sponges, and mops that have been soaked in the disinfectant solution. When using the chlorine solution, avoid spilling the mixture on clothing or other items that may be damaged.
4. Thoroughly spray or wet-down (soak) any dead mice, traps, droppings, or nesting areas with disinfectant or bleach solution.
5. Once everything is wet, take up contaminated materials with a damp towel, then mop or sponge the area with disinfectant.
6. Wipe down counter tops, cabinets, and drawers. Mop floors and baseboards.
7. Steam clean carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture.
8. Wash clothes and bedding in hot water and detergent. Set the dryer on high.
9. To dispose of contaminated items, including dead mice and mousetraps, put them in a plastic bag. Seal the bag and put it in another plastic bag. Also double-bag all the cleaning materials used. Seal the outer bag and bury or burn it--or throw it out in the appropriate waste disposal system (outdoor garbage can). If burning or burying isn't feasible, contact your local or state health department about other disposal methods.
10. Finally, disinfect or throw away the gloves you used.
11. When you are done with taking off the cleaned gloves, thoroughly wash your hands or shower with soap and hot water.
12. When going into cabins or outbuildings (or work areas) that have been closed for awhile, open them up and air out before cleaning.