Sask. health officials warn of Hantavirus
As spring cleaning season begins, Saskatchewan health officials are reminding people to be careful in buildings potentially infested with mice.
Breathing dust contaminated with mouse droppings, urine or saliva can put people at risk of the potentially fatal lung illness called Hantavirus.
Symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headache, coughing, nausea and vomiting can start between one and six weeks of exposure. People who have come into contact with mouse droppings and develop a fever, cough and shortness of breath are advised to seek medical attention right away.
Since 1994, 31 people in Saskatchewan have tested positive for Hantavirus and 10 have died from it.