We are in the process
of developing training specific to those working with rodents in field studies
Please contact Julia Rosen for more information: 621-1570 or
jcrosen@email.arizona.edu.
For now, those engaged in
rodent trapping or cleanout of periurban or rural structures
with rodent droppings, are strongly advised to carefully and consistently follow
precautions to include respirator use and mandatory OSHA training and fit
testing with Risk Management and Safety. Self-study quizzes are available
and tailored for either
building cleanout or
rodent trapping and include details on hantavirus hazards
(see alert below), safe work
practices, and the steps to obtaining a respirator that will fit and protect.
Suggested items by
Risk Management are:
"Safety Guidelines for Field Researchers"
(www.ehs.berkeley.edu/pubs/field
researchsfty.pdf) provides an overview of
things to think about when working in the field though
specifically created for field researchers at UC Berkeley...be aware you should
contact appropriate areas at UA.
Fire Safety for Field
Work (http://www.ehs.berkeley.edu/pubs/factsheets/27firesftyfield.html)
- Fire hazard is especially high during the
summer due to the long, dry season. Those who work at off-site research
stations, do field work, or are simply enjoying some much needed time off
outside will do well to observe the following simple
measures for preventing and reacting to fires.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
February 9, 2006
Health
Officials Urge Precautions After Confirming Two Fatal Cases of Hantavirus
Pulmonary Syndrome
Michael Murphy, ADHS Communications Director:
(602) 542-1094
Jeanene Fowler, Maricopa County Public Health: (602) 722-1806
State and local health officials today urged the public to
take appropriate precautions when living or working in rodent infested areas,
following the confirmation of two cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome this
year. Both were fatal.
One case involved a man who lived along the rural fringe of a new suburb in
Maricopa County. He may have been exposed to the disease while cleaning up mouse
droppings in his garage. The man, in his 60s, died in January.
The other case involved a Navajo County woman who also died after contracting
the disease.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome usually begins with flu-like symptoms, and may
rapidly progress to respiratory failure when the lungs fill with fluid. Patients
usually develop breathing difficulty approximately two to six days after onset
of symptoms.
“As this tragedy shows us, this isn’t just a Four Corners issue,” said Dr. Bob
England, medical director for Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
“Hantavirus is carried by rodents throughout the country, including here in the
Valley. It’s a rare but real risk anytime you inhale dust containing rodent
droppings, such as by sweeping.”
Heavy rains from last winter led to a surge in populations of wild mice that
carry hantavirus. Increased wild mice populations are associated with increased
cases of hantavirus in humans, and this may last for many months. Seven cases
have occurred in Arizona in the last 13 months, the largest cluster since the
1993-1994 outbreak. House mice and roof rats are not known to carry the disease.
“Similar conditions -- lots of rain followed by a dry spell -- were seen in 1993
and 1994 when we had an outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the Four
Corners Region,” said state Epidemiologist David Engelthaler.
Fifty-three cases of HPS were identified in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and
Colorado during that outbreak, including 20 cases in Arizona.
To date, 46 cases of HPS have been reported in Arizona since 1992, including
eight in Maricopa County. Fourteen of those 46 cases were fatal.
Hantavirus can occur wherever the deer mouse and its close relatives live, which
includes most rural areas throughout the state, including the suburban-fringe
areas of the Phoenix and Tucson. Engelthaler stressed the importance of taking
preventive measures to avoid contracting the disease and the Health Department
issued the following guidelines to reduce risk of contracting Hantavirus
Pulmonary Syndrome:
Proper clean-up methods:
- When rodent droppings or nests are found in and
around the home, spray them liberally with a household disinfectant and
allow them to soak for at least 15 minutes. Use disinfectants that kill
viruses, such as Lysol®, or a solution of one-part household bleach mixed
with nine parts water.
- After disinfecting, wear rubber gloves and clean up
the droppings with disposable materials such as paper towels, rags or mops.
- Seal all materials, droppings or nests in double
plastic bags and dispose of them in the trash.
- Do not clean the droppings or nests by sweeping,
brushing or vacuuming, since these methods stir up dust and increase a
person's chances of inhaling the virus.
Rodent-proof your home:
- Prevent rodents from entering the home by plugging or
sealing all holes and gaps to the outside greater than 1/4-inch in diameter.
Use steel wool, thick wire screen, metal flashing or cement to seal holes.
- Eliminate or reduce rodent shelter around the home by
removing outdoor junk and clutter, and by moving woodpiles, lumber, hay
bales etc., as far away from the house as possible.
- Keep the lawn trimmed and free of excess weeds and
brush.
- Do not make food easily available to rodents. Do not
leave pet food in dishes. Dispose of garbage in trash cans with
tight-fitting lids.
- Wash dirty dishes promptly, and clean up spilled food
immediately. Store bulk grains and animal feed in rodent-proof containers.
Rodent control:
- Control rodents inside the home by placing
spring-loaded "snap" traps in areas where rodents and their droppings have
been observed. Bait the traps with peanut butter and/or oats and check them
regularly. When rodents are caught, spray the dead rodents with a
disinfectant, such as Lysol or bleach and water, then wait at least 15
minutes. Put on rubber gloves and then seal the dead rodents in plastic bags
before disposing of them in a trash can. The snap traps can be disinfected
and re-used.
- In areas above 4,500 feet in elevation, any dead
rodents and rodent nests should be sprayed with a pesticide to kill fleas
before disinfecting or disposing the carcasses. This is to prevent flea
bites and possible exposure to another disease, the plague.
For more information about HPS contact
the Arizona Department of Health Services
Vector Borne Disease Program at (602) 364-4562.
This web page is maintained by Certification Coordinator
Revised: 01/02/08 gea
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