Careful with mouse droppings... Here is some clean-up info for the mouse droppings... Your right, Hantavirus is serious...
The biggest risk of contracting Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) occurs through inhaling air contaminated with virus that becomes aerosolized after droppings are disturbed (by sweeping up, for instance)
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Jay
INDEPTH: HEALTH
Hantavirus – frequently asked questions
CBC News Online | June 21, 2006
Deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, a hantavirus carrier. (courtesy CDC)The death of a 14-year-old boy from Okanagan, B.C., from hantavirus in May 2005 once again raised the profile of this rare but deadly viral disease. Canada’s first human hantavirus case was reported in British Columbia in 1994, but subsequent research suggests that the first case actually took place in Alberta five years earlier.
About 61 cases have been reported in Canada, with at least 20 deaths. Except for a single case in Quebec, all of the cases have occurred in the four western provinces. But infected mice have been found in the Yukon and in every province except Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, suggesting that the potential exists for human hantavirus cases to emerge in other parts of the country.
What is hantavirus?
QUICK FACTS:
Percentage of Canadian HPS cases that occur on farms:
25 per cent
Canadian province with most cases of HPS:
Alberta (at least 30 cases)
Number of known hantavirus genotypes in Canada:
2 (Sin Nombre and Prospect Hill)
Year HPS became a nationally reportable disease in Canada:
2000
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada
Hantavirus is a viral disease carried by wild rodents – especially deer mice, which in Canada are the principal animal reservoirs of the virus. The mice themselves don’t appear to get sick from the virus. But if they are infected, they excrete the virus in their feces, urine and saliva. For humans, the biggest risk of contracting Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) occurs through inhaling air contaminated with virus that becomes aerosolized after droppings are disturbed (by sweeping up, for instance). The virus remains viable for two or three days at room temperature.
What does a deer mouse look like?
The deer mouse is primarily a rural creature. It is grayish to light brown on top, with a white belly. It has large ears and a furry tail and has eyes that appear to “bug out.” The typical city-swelling house mouse, which is not a carrier of hantavirus, is usually entirely gray or light brown (no white on the belly).
What are the symptoms of HPS?
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is not a common illness. There were no cases at all in Canada in all of 2004; the country typically reports just three cases a year. Furthermore, most people who are exposed to the virus do not fall ill. But if HPS is contracted, it can be a killer. Mortality estimates in Canada and United States range from 33 per cent to 50 per cent.
"It's not always fatal," said Dr. Robin Lindsay, with the national microbiology lab in Winnipeg. "Of the 61 human cases we've had so far, we're looking at a 36 per cent mortality rate. Unfortunately, it can have a high mortality rate, but people do survive exposure."
The first symptoms typically occur one to three weeks after exposure to infected mice and their droppings. It begins as a flu-like illness. Fever, muscle pains and fatigue progress within a few days to coughing and shortness of breath. Lungs fill with fluid and a respirator is often needed. For those who survive, recovery can take weeks or months. There is no vaccine.
How do I avoid contracting HPS?
Avoiding hantavirus is as simple as avoiding infected mice and their droppings. Unfortunately, that is not entirely possible for many farmers, ranchers, exterminators, cottagers or campers. For those who are at increased risk, there are some basic precautions to take. Before entering a building that may be contaminated (such as when opening up the cottage in the spring), the building should be aired out for at least an hour, with you on the outside. Most hantavirus cases occur in May, according to Lindsay, which may have to do with spring cleaning.
Avoid sweeping up or vacuuming mouse droppings, which can inject viral particles into the air. Instead, don a pair of rubber gloves and wet the material with bleach or similar disinfectant. Use a damp cloth to clean up the area and then spray with more disinfectant. Spray any dead mice with disinfectant and double-bag them for disposal. Disinfect, or better still, throw out the rubber gloves. Items that can’t be disinfected can be rendered safe by exposing them to sunlight for a few hours. Ultraviolet rays kill hantavirus.
People who regularly work in rodent-infested areas would be well advised to wear HEPA-filter face masks.
Can pets get hantavirus?
The good news here is that Fido and Fluffy appear to be immune to hantavirus. Dogs and cats can’t catch the virus and then bring it home to you (even if an infected mouse is eaten). Having said that, it should be noted that if your pets catch and bring home an infected deer mouse as a present, then you could be at risk. When handling any rodent remains, rubber gloves and liberal use of disinfectant are mandatory.
Can hantavirus be spread from person to person?
There are no known human cases of HPS being contracted from another person in North America. The May 7, 2005, hantavirus death of a woman from Hobbema, Alta., attracted added attention because two other family members also contracted the disease. But authorities doubt that the transmission was from one family member to the others; they note that the family had been cleaning out the woman’s garage, which was contaminated with mouse droppings.
What if I think I may have been exposed to hantavirus?
It can’t be emphasized enough that Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a rare illness and the risk of contracting it is very low. Cottagers are at far greater risk of dying in an accident on their way to the cabin than from hantavirus. But simple prudence demands that if you’ve been in an area that’s been contaminated with mouse droppings and you later develop flu-like symptoms or have trouble breathing, you should seek medical attention immediately.
to complicated for me 
