GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Hantavirus, a rare but serious virus linked to rodents, is getting national attention; however, Brown County Public Health officials say the risk for those in Northeast Wisconsin remains low for now.
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“The risk to the immediate public is extremely low,” Brown County Public Health Officer Anna Nick said.
Hantavirus is rare, but it can be dangerous.
“It’s a family of viruses that can spread serious illness,” Nick said. “You can get it coming in contact with rodent droppings or urine, getting scratched by a rodent or coming into contact with its environment.”
It’s most commonly linked to deer mice, which are one of the more prominent species in Wisconsin. Health officials say this time of the year does increase risk, even if the current risk in the area is low.
As people clean out garages, sheds and cabins where rodents may have been hiding all winter, Nick says it’s important to take precautions.
“Wearing gloves, wearing eye protection and/or wearing a properly fitted mask that keeps particulates out,” Nick said.
Experts also say that using a wet rag when cleaning is crucial for wiping surfaces down because sweeping and vacuuming can stir up contaminated dust, making it easier to breathe in the virus.
“Hantaviruses can mimic the flu, so someone may experience feeling tired, body aches, dizziness or tightness in their chest or coughing,” Nick said.
If symptoms show up after possible exposure, health officials urge people to contact their medical providers right away. Nick urges folks to take precautions now, to minimize any future risk.
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“We want to take extra precautions, doing so safely, because that will prevent us from being ill in the future,” Nick said.
Nick also said that the best way to prevent any possible risk is to eliminate the food source in the first place and get rid of any gaps rodents may be using to get into homes.
