Of Mice and Man

A MINUTE OF HEALTH WITH CDC
Of Mice and Man
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in Four Pediatric Patients — Arizona,
Colorado, and Washington, 2009
Recorded: January 5, 2010; posted: January 14, 2010

This program is presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC — safer, healthier people.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, or HPS, is a disease that is caused by people coming in contact with rodents. HPS is caused by a virus found in rodent excretions or other bodily fluids that can be breathed in or absorbed through broken skin. The result is a serious condition in which one of three reported cases has been fatal. Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, coughing and joint pains followed by difficulty breathing. If you think you might have an infestation of rodents in or around your home, be careful not to stir up any dust or dirt that might contain the virus. Then, clean up the area with household disinfectants or bleach.

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