From the Guidelines
Yes, mouse droppings can cause respiratory illness, and it is crucial to take precautions when cleaning them to prevent the risk of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and other respiratory conditions. When mouse droppings dry out and are disturbed, tiny particles containing viruses, bacteria, and allergens become airborne and can be inhaled. The most serious respiratory disease associated with mouse droppings is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which can be fatal, as reported in a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1. Other respiratory conditions include allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Precautions for Cleaning Mouse Droppings
When cleaning mouse droppings, it is essential to follow proper precautions to minimize the risk of infection.
- Always wear an N95 respirator mask, gloves, and protective clothing, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1.
- Never sweep or vacuum droppings, as this disperses particles into the air.
- Instead, spray the area with a disinfectant solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water), let it soak for 5-10 minutes, then wipe up with paper towels and dispose in sealed plastic bags.
- Use a paper towel to pick up the urine and droppings, and place the paper towel in the garbage.
- After the rodent droppings and urine have been removed, disinfect items that might have been contaminated by rodents or their urine and droppings, including floors, countertops, cabinets, and other durable surfaces.
High-Risk Groups
People with existing respiratory conditions, compromised immune systems, the elderly, and young children are at higher risk for severe reactions, and should take extra precautions when cleaning mouse droppings or avoid doing so altogether. It is also important to note that mouse-borne pathogens can survive in droppings for weeks to months, and it only takes inhaling a small amount of contaminated dust to cause infection, as reported in a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1.
From the Research
Mouse Droppings and Respiratory Illness
- Mouse droppings can cause respiratory illness due to the presence of hantavirus, which can be transmitted to humans through inhalation of aerosolized virus particles 2, 3, 4.
- Hantavirus infection can result in two clinical syndromes: haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) 2, 3, 4.
- The pathogenesis of hantavirus disease is likely to be a complex multifactorial process that includes contributions from immune responses, platelet dysfunction, and the deregulation of endothelial cell barrier functions 2, 3.
Transmission and Prevention
- Transmission to humans occurs by exposure to infected rodents in endemic areas, and Andes hantavirus can be transmitted from person to person 4.
- Public awareness and precautionary measures are the only ways to minimize the risk of hantavirus disease, as there is no effective treatment or vaccine approved for use in the USA and Europe 2, 3, 4.
- Diagnostic tools such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblot assay (IBA), and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) can be used to detect hantavirus in the human body 3.
Treatment and Management
- No specific effective antiviral treatment is available for hantavirus infection, but various candidate drugs such as ribavirin, lactoferrin, and favipiravir have shown efficacy in increasing survival rates during the early stages of infection 5, 6.
- Immunotherapy utilizing neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) generated from Hantavirus convalescent patients shows efficacy against HTNV infection, and monoclonal antibodies such as MIB22 and JL16 have demonstrated effectiveness in protecting against HTNV infection 6.
- The development of vaccines and antivirals, used independently and/or in combination, is critical for elucidating hantaviral infections and the impact on public health 6.