A hantavirus infection involving a Riverside County resident who was likely exposed to disease-laden mice droppings in the Whitewater area prompted health officials Thursday to remind residents to take precautions in places inhabited by rodents.
According to the county Department of Public Health, the patient, whose identity was not disclosed, became ill with viral symptoms earlier this month and was hospitalized but is now recovering at home.
The hantavirus infection is believed to be the first in the county since testing for the pathogen began in 1993, officials said.
“The confirmation of this case reminds us of the importance of key safety practices when coming in contact with animals and the bacteria and viruses they may bring with them and leave behind,” Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky said. “There are simple steps the community can take to protect themselves.”
The pathogen has turned up in deer and Western harvest mice feces and urine in the San Gorgonio Pass and other parts of the county for years. Hantavirus can lead to a severe and potentially fatal respiratory infection in humans called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS.
Mice do not exhibit symptoms of being sick, making identification of infected creatures difficult, according to officials.
Since 1993, there have 90 confirmed human cases statewide, according to the Department of Public Health.
Transmission occurs through the rodents’ droppings, saliva and urine.
“Breathing small particles … that have been stirred up into the air is the most common means of acquiring infection,” according to an agency statement. “The illness starts one to six weeks after exposure with fever, headache and muscle ache, progressing rapidly to severe difficulty in breathing and, in some cases, death.”
Warning signs of HPS can additionally include vomiting and abdominal pain.
Residents were advised to avoid stirring up dust and debris when cleaning places where mice have left droppings and to follow these additional recommendations:
— ventilate rodent-infested places the night before cleaning them;
— apply household disinfectants liberally in rodent nesting areas;
— use rubber gloves while cleaning;
— use a mop or sponge — not a vacuum cleaner or broom — to clean;
— double-bag dead rodents and the waste cleared out of infested areas; and
— wash hands with gloves still on, then wash again after removing them.
One of the worst-known cases of a hantavirus outbreak occurred in the Four Corners region of the desert southwest in 1993. More than 30 people, mostly members of the Navajo Tribe, died over the course of a year.
Anyone with questions or concerns can contact the Department of Environmental Health at 951-766-9454, or go to the following web portal for additional information: cdc.gov/hantavirus/index.html.