HANTAVIRUS PREVENTION

There are no immunizations currently available against any of the hantaviruses. The only forms of prevention involve rodent control within the community and within individual households. The following is a list of preventative measures:

• Avoiding areas known to be infested by rodents is essential.
• Keep a clean home and keep food in rodent-proof containers.
• Dispose of garbage and empty pet food dishes at night.
• Set rodent traps around baseboards and in tight places. Dispose of dead animals with gloves and disinfect the are a with bleach.
• Use rodenticide as necessary.
• Seal any entry holes 0.25 inch wide or wider around foundations with screen, cement, or metal flashing.
• Clear brush and junk from house foundations.
• Put metal flashing around house foundations.
• Elevate hay, woodpiles, and refuse containers.
• Air out all sealed outbuildings or cabins 30 minutes before cleaning for the season.
• When camping, do not sleep on the bare ground; sleep on a cot or in a tent with a floor.