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What Is Hantavirus? Understanding the True Cause of This Virus

mouse on a kitchen counter

In the past few weeks, it feels like hantavirus has been mentioned everywhere. People are talking about it, the news won’t stop giving updates, and people on the internet are spreading fear about the situation. 

For many, this can all feel overwhelming. What’s true and what’s not? 

While we might not be boots-on-the-ground journalists, we are pest experts, and we know a thing or two about rodents and the diseases they spread, including hantavirus. Today, we’ll help you understand exactly what hantavirus is and how common-sense rodent prevention methods can help to keep you and your family safe and healthy from this virus. 

What Is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus, when discussing it in the Americas, is more accurately known as the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). There is another form of hantavirus that is more common in Europe and Asia; however, the virus that has been circulating in the news recently is HPS. 

While HPS is a serious illness, it is incredibly rare and is spread by direct contact with infected rodents or their droppings. Breathing in airborne rodent dropping particles is the most common way of contracting this virus. In even more rare cases, it can spread person to person if it’s the Andes strain of the virus, but this is almost exclusively found in remote areas of South America. 

Symptoms of HPS include: 

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Muscles aches
  • Headache
  • Stomach issues
  • Cough
  • Trouble breathing
  • Irregular heartbeat 

HPS symptoms can mimic other illnesses, such as COVID, the flu, and the common cold. So if you have been exposed to rodents or a recently rodent-infested area, it’s better to get checked out by a doctor sooner rather than later to rule out the possibility. 

Why Is Hantavirus in the News?

If you’ve been online or watching TV, you might be aware that the hantavirus has been in the news a lot recently. This is because there was a recent small outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic. As with many stories, it quickly gained traction across the internet, and rumors and theories began spreading about how this could become more widespread. 

The cruise ship has since docked, and the passengers have returned to their home countries. American citizens onboard the ship are being taken care of in a secure medical facility in Nebraska to monitor and treat them if needed. At this time, the CDC is not concerned about it spreading any further in the United States, and the WHO agrees that this will not become a bigger issue throughout the world. 

Should I Be Concerned about Hantavirus in Massachusetts?

The risk of hantavirus in Massachusetts is very low. In fact, there have only been 890 reported cases over a 30-year period (1993 to 2023) in the United States, with only one of those cases being in Massachusetts. 

So while the current situation might be blowing up online, there is no reason for Massachusetts families to fear an increased risk of getting hantavirus. Standard preventive measures should be enough to keep you and your family safe and healthy. 

What Other Illnesses Can Rodents Spread?

While hantavirus is relatively low risk, you should be aware that rodents can spread a host of different diseases, not just hantavirus. In fact, rodents can spread 35 diseases when they come in contact with people. Some of them are much more common, so you don’t want to neglect rodent control. 

Rodents can spread the following illnesses: 

  • Lyme Disease 
  • Salmonella
  • Leptospirosis
  • Rat-bite Fever
  • Meningetis
  • Monkey Pox
  • Sylvatic Typhus
  • And more

Furthermore, rodents can attract or carry other pests with them, such as ticks, which can put your family at risk if you have an infestation in your home. 

How to Prevent Rodents in Your Home

Luckily, if you take the time to invest in rodent prevention, you can avoid many of the diseases that rodents carry and spread. In order to thoroughly protect your home from rodents, you can do the following: 

  • Seal any access points into your home 
  • Properly store and dispose of food products
  • Clean your home regularly (note: never vacuum rat or mouse droppings as this can cause many of the diseases to become “airborne”) 
  • Monitor areas where you have seen or suspect rodent activity
  • Remove nesting materials from the yard and your home
  • Invest in recurring pest control to create a constant barrier from all pests entering your home

Trust F&W Pest Control for All Your Rodent Prevention Needs

Whether you want to get ahead of rodents or you think you could have rodents in your home, F&W Pest Control is here to keep your Massachusetts home rodent-free. We’ll inspect your home, find the root problem, and create a custom treatment plan to keep you and your family safe. Don’t let rodents disrupt your peace of mind—call F&W Pest Control to keep rodents out and protect your family from them for good. 

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