What to know about hantavirus—and how to protect your home from rodents

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Hantavirus infections are rare, but they can be severe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says Hantavirus—found mainly in rodents—is typically spread when people inhale particles contaminated by rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.

East Texas Med Team Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Ed Dominguez says human-to-human transmission is uncommon and has only been documented with the Andes virus.

“In the United States, for example, it’s the deer mouse that tends to harbor it. But the Andes strain that we are seeing on the cruise ship comes from a different mouse in South America. That strain is the most infectious strain out of all of the hantaviruses.”

Symptoms and when they start

Symptoms usually begin one to eight weeks after exposure. They commonly include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea or vomiting

How people are exposed

Contact with the virus can happen during activities that disturb rodent waste, including:

• Cleaning up rodent droppings
• Farming or gardening
• Living in or working around a rodent-infested space

“Rodents are exactly like humans are. They’re looking for food, water and shelter all the time,” said Kirk Slack, the owner of Dang Pest Control in Tyler.

Slack says reducing the risk of rodent-related disease starts with keeping rodents out.

“Cleaning is the biggest thing and doing repairs to your house. We go to houses where the bottoms of the doors are rotting off or the fascia is falling off the house—and those entry points are so glaring and so easy for rodents to get inside your house.”

Home protection tips to help keep rodents away

Slack recommends a layered approach—remove shelter and access, and reduce food and water sources.

• Inspect your home’s exterior for gaps, cracks, or openings around doors, windows, siding, fascia, vents, and utility lines.
• Seal holes and access points (especially near pipes and wiring) and repair damaged areas like rotting door bottoms or deteriorating fascia.
• Trim tree limbs back 5–6 feet if branches touch or hang over your home.
• Trim bushes and vegetation away from the house so rodents have fewer hiding spots and pathways to climb.
• Keep outdoor areas tidy: store items off the ground, reduce clutter, and keep trash secured.

If you’re cleaning droppings or treating an infestation

If you have a rodent problem and plan to address it yourself, Slack recommends taking precautions.

Use PPE and avoid direct contact

Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when dealing with droppings or contaminated areas, including:

• Masks (or a respirator when appropriate)
• Gloves
• Long sleeves and pants

Dang Pest Control says its crews also use PPE on jobs, including respirators, masks, gloves, long sleeves, and pants, to limit exposure.

Choose safer trapping options

Slack recommends snap traps as a humane way to exterminate rodents.

“It’s very important that if you’re having trouble, get on it quickly—but if you’re having trouble, call a professional.”