HANTAVIRUS
PREVENTION & CLEANUP

How is hantavirus prevented?

There is no vaccine and no specific medication that prevents hantavirus. The best protection is to avoid contact with rodents and their waste, and to follow strict cleanup protocols when you do encounter droppings, urine, or nests.

1 / Rodent-proof your home, cottage, or campsite

• Seal cracks, gaps, and holes around doors, windows, pipes, and foundations.
• Store food, pet food, and garbage in tightly sealed metal or heavy plastic containers.
• Keep woodpiles, sheds, and garages clean and elevated off the ground.
• Remove clutter and potential nesting sites (leaves, brush, junk) near buildings.
• Use snap traps or live traps indoors if needed — avoid poison, which can attract more rodents.
• Trim vegetation and keep grass short around your property.

2 / Safe cleanup of droppings & nests

1. Wear protective gear. Rubber or nitrile gloves and an N95 (or HEPA-filtered) respirator if cleaning a confined or heavily contaminated space.
2. Ventilate the area. Open windows and doors and let the space air out for at least 30 minutes before you start.
3. Spray thoroughly. Soak droppings, urine, and nesting material with a household disinfectant or a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Let it sit at least 10 minutes.
4. Wipe up. Use paper towels or a disposable cloth. Double-bag the waste and dispose of it in the trash.
5. Disinfect again. Clean the surrounding area and any tools you used with disinfectant.
6. Remove gloves properly. Wash gloves with disinfectant and hot soapy water, then remove them. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
7. Launder or discard. Wash any clothing that contacted droppings in hot water, with bleach if possible.

3 / Additional prevention tips

Camping & cottages. Air out cabins or tents before use. Avoid sleeping on the ground near rodent burrows. Store food in rodent-proof containers.

Workplaces & garages. Use the same cleaning protocol for sheds, barns, and storage areas that have been closed for months — risk is highest after long winter or seasonal closures.

Travel. In areas with known hantavirus activity (e.g., parts of the southwestern U.S. or South America), avoid entering rodent-infested buildings.

Pets. Keep cats indoors — they can bring rodents inside. Never use pet rats or mice from unknown or unverified sources.

If you think you've been exposed

Flu-like symptoms — fever, muscle aches, headache, or shortness of breath — after possible rodent contact warrant urgent medical attention. Go to a doctor or emergency department and tell your provider about the rodent exposure. Hantavirus is rare enough that it isn't on most clinicians' first list of suspects when someone walks in with flu symptoms, and the diagnosis hinges on knowing to test for it. Early supportive care substantially improves the chances of survival.