Hantavirus Threat For Amarillo?

A recent diagnosis of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in an Amarillo citizen has prompted the City’s departments of Public Health and Environmental Health to remind area residents to take precautions and know the symptoms.  Hantavirus is an infection of the lungs caused by several different strains of the virus found in rodents.

Human infection comes from breathing in the virus from dried rodent urine, droppings, nesting material and saliva. When these substances are stirred up by vacuuming, sweeping or similar activity, tiny droplets or particles containing the virus get into the air and can be inhaled.

Public Health and Environmental Health
"Potential Risk Activities for HPS
• Opening or cleaning cabins, sheds and outbuildings, including barns, garages and storage facilities that have been closed is a potential risk for hantavirus infections, especially in rural settings.
• Cleaning in and around your own home can put you at risk if rodents are present.
• Construction, utility and pest control workers can be exposed when they work in crawl spaces, under houses, or in vacant buildings that may have a rodent population.
• Campers and hikers can also be exposed when they use infested trail shelters or camp in other rodent habitats.
HPS patients experience the following symptoms:
• Fatigue
• Fever and muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups—thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Chills
• Abdominal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain"

If you have these symptoms and believe that you have been exposed to rodent droppings in closed or confined spaces, contact your health provider immediately.