What Are the Treatments for Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is disease that causes flu-like symptoms. The primary carrier of the disease is the deer mouse. Transmission of the disease can only occur by coming into contact with infected rodent droppings, urine or saliva. According to the Centers for Disease Control, you can become infected through a process known as aerosolization. Aerosolization is a process where you can kick up rodent droppings or disturb saliva, and then inhale any kicked up infectious aerosols. There isn't a specific treatment for the disease itself, but rather treatments for complications that can occur from the progression of the virus, which can become life-threatening.

Early Recognition

• If you have been diagnosed with hantavirus early enough, your chances of not developing complications increase. Once initially infected, you'll be hospitalized in an intensive care unit. You will be intubated with a breathing tube and given oxygen therapy. Intubation is necessary to help you through the development of respiratory distress. It is important that prior to being hospitalized you alert your physician if you have been exposed to any rodents and have had flu-like symptoms, such as fever and muscle aches. According to the Centers for Diseases Control, alerting your physician any exposure to rodents can allow your doctor to look for signs of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

HPS

• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is carried by rodents who have a hantavirus. The disease is deadly, but is only common in areas of the western U.S. HPS can be caught in the same way as the hantavirus. Though in very rare instances, you can get bit by an infected rodent, and develop the disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, the deer mouse is a carrier of the Sin Nombre virus, which is the cause of many HPS cases within the U.S.

Treatments for HPS

• You'll be given supportive therapy, which means being placed on oxygen with either a machine or through intubation. This is necessary to reduce the development of pulmonary edema, or fluid build up in the lungs. If your symptoms become problematic, you may need to have your blood oxygenated. According to the Mayo Clinic, in a process known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, your blood is continuously flushed through a machine. This machine will remove any carbon dioxide from your blood, while adding oxygen to the blood. This newly oxygenated blood is then transferred back into your body.

Risks

• According to the Mayo Clinic, certain activities can put you at a higher risk for developing the hantavirus. Activities such as camping or hiking, working in jobs that can expose you to rodents, cleaning in sheds or attics or working in an area infested with rodents. If you are working in areas where there is a known rodent infestation, it is important to use a face mask to reduce the risk of breathing in infected aerosols.

Prevention

• Never touch any droppings with your hand. If you need to clean up any rodent droppings, use a bleach solution to neutralize the droppings. According to the Centers for Disease Control, you should mix 1 and 1/2 cups of bleach with 1 gallon of water. Saturate the area with droppings, and either towel up or mop the area clean. If you need to dispose of dead rodents, neutralize them first, before disposing of the carcass in a plastic bag. Either bury or burn the rodent, or contact your local health department on how to properly dispose of the rodent. Also use a face mask and latex gloves when working in areas of rodent infestations. Disinfect your gloves prior to removal, and thoroughly wash your hands with warm soap and water.