Working Draft for:
Preeceville's Main Street with the Mayor Garth Harris for May 21st, 2020 8:35 am
With GX94's Craig Wallebeck > see him @ http://www.gx94radio.com/craig-Wallebeck
This week we focus on: Precautions For
Hantavirus
Saskatchewan Residents Reminded To Take Precautions For Hantavirus
Released on May 20, 2020
"The Government of Saskatchewan is urging residents to take precautions and be mindful about the risk of hantavirus this spring in areas where rodents might be present.
Exposure is most likely to occur when cleaning up enclosed buildings (such as grain bins, sheds, barns, garages, trailers, cottages, and homes) or farm equipment and vehicles after winter.
“Humans can be exposed to hantavirus when inhaling contaminated air caused by the droppings, urine and saliva of infected rodents,” Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said. “Hantavirus can cause illness in humans including a lung related illness known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which can be fatal.”
Symptoms typically start within one to six weeks of exposure and include tiredness, fever, muscle aches, cough, headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Some people develop severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing, that can be life threatening. Seek medical attention immediately if you have a cough, fever, and shortness of breath.
To avoid exposure to hantavirus, be aware of mouse droppings and nesting materials and take the following precautions when cleaning infested areas:
• Ventilate the building by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before cleaning;
- Use wet mopping methods and wear rubber or plastic gloves;
- Wear goggles and a well-fitting N-100, R-100 or P-100 (formerly HEPA) type filter mask when cleaning areas contaminated by droppings in a confined space;
- Dampen areas contaminated with rodent droppings with bleach disinfectant (one part bleach to nine parts water), let sit for 10 minutes, and remove droppings with a damp mop or cloth;
- Avoid using dry cleaning methods such as dusting, sweeping, vacuuming or air-hosing;
- Steam clean, shampoo or spray upholstered furniture with a detergent, disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water; and
- Wash clothes and bedding with detergent in hot water.
Also, take steps to reduce rodent infestations:
- Block openings that might allow rodents to enter a building;
- Store human and animal food, water and garbage in containers with tightly fitted lids; and
- Move woodpiles or other potential hiding places for mice away from your home.
For more information on hantavirus, visit the government website at www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/diseases-and-conditions/hantavirus and HealthLine Online at www.healthlineonline.ca.
For advice on symptoms or when to seek care, call HealthLine 811.
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For more information, contact:
Health, Regina, Phone: 306-787-4083 Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca
www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/diseases-and-conditions/hantavirus
Hantavirus
Hantavirus infection is a rare but serious illness. Typical symptoms are flu-like and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, diarrhea, abdominal pain and shortness of breath. These symptoms can occur any time between three days to six weeks (usually around 14 days) after exposure. Infection without symptoms is rare.
Exposure to hantavirus can cause a rare but often fatal disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). HPS can progress rapidly into serious complications which include the following symptoms: abnormal fall in blood pressure, lungs filling with fluid and severe respiratory failure. As of May 13, 2020, there have been 35 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome reported in Saskatchewan since 1994, 11 of which resulted in death.
Hantavirus illness can affect people of all ages and regardless of gender. People are at risk if they come into contact with deer mice, their droppings or nesting materials. Most people are exposed when cleaning out or demolishing enclosed or poorly ventilated buildings that have had mouse infestations (i.e. grain bins, sheds, barns, garages, ventilation systems, trailers, elevators, etc.) or cleaning equipment such combines or vehicles that have been in storage.
For more information
Contact HealthLine 811 or visit HealthLine Online
1. About Deer Mice
In western North America, deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are the primary carriers of the particular strain of hantavirus that causes respiratory illness in people.
Deer mice are found throughout Saskatchewan in a variety of indoor and outdoor habitats. They are more common in rural and semi-rural areas than in urban areas. Deer mice construct nests in stumps, hollow tree cavities, under logs, abandoned bird nests, wood piles, old cars or buildings such as sheds, granaries, garages and cottages. They may enter buildings when the weather turns colder.
Compared to house mice or field mice, deer mice have relatively large eyes and ears, long tails and are bicoloured. The belly and underside of their body is white, and the back and upper part of their tail is dark brown or gray.
2. How Hantavirus is spread
Humans are most often exposed to the virus by breathing in air particles contaminated by deer mouse saliva, urine or feces containing infectious hantaviruses. This can occur, for example, after sweeping or vacuuming infected areas.
The virus can also be transmitted by:
- being bitten by a deer mouse or other infected rodent, if the skin is broken;
- touching mucous membranes (e.g. eyes, mouth, nose) with contaminated hands or gloves that have contacted rodent urine, saliva, or droppings;
- eating food contaminated by infected deer mouse saliva, urine or droppings.
3. Minimize the risk of getting Hantavirus
Exposure to hantavirus can be reduced by avoiding contact with rodents and contaminated airborne particles.
- Block openings that might allow rodents to enter a building;
- Store human and animal food, water and garbage in containers with tightly fitted lids;
- Be aware of animal droppings and nesting materials when cleaning a home or other building.
When cleaning rodent-infested areas people are advised to reduce the risk of contaminated air particles becoming airborne, and prevent direct contact and inhalation.
- Ventilate the building by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before cleaning;
- Use wet mopping methods and wear gloves;
- Wear goggles and a filter mask when cleaning areas contaminated by droppings in a confined space;
- Dampen areas contaminated with rodent droppings with bleach disinfectant and remove droppings with a damp mop or cloth; and
- Avoid using dry cleaning methods such as dusting, sweeping, vacuuming or air-hosing.
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Hantavirus
What is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a virus that is found in the urine, saliva, or droppings of infected deer mice and some other wild rodents (cotton rats, rice rats in the southeastern Unites States and the white-footed mouse and the red-backed vole). It causes a rare but serious lung disease called Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The virus does not remain active for long once outside of its host -- less than 1 week outdoors and a few hours when exposed to direct sunlight.
How common is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus was first identified in Canada in 1994. When researchers reviewed other earlier cases, they were able to positively identify that there were at least 3 other cases occurring before 1994, the first happening in 1989. Since 1989, there have been 109 confirmed hantavirus cases and 27 deaths in Canada according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (as of January 2015).
"35 -11 for Sk 109 - 27 for Canada" 1/3 of the cases in Saskatchewan. 1/37 of population?
How can Hantavirus enter my body?
People can contract the Hantavirus infection through inhalation of respirable droplets of saliva or urine, or through the dust of feces from infected wild rodents, especially the deer mouse. Transmission can also occur when contaminated material gets into broken skin, or possibly, ingested in contaminated food or water. Person-to-person transmission in North America has not been reported. A few situations of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in South America suggests person-to-person transmission is possible. However, the viruses isolated in South America are genetically distinct from those described in North America.
How does Hantavirus affect my health?
The disease caused by Hantavirus is called Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Symptoms appear within 1 to 5 weeks after exposure. The average is 2 to 4 weeks. This disease is extremely serious since about 40% of the people who get the disease die. The disease begins as a flu-like illness. In the early stage, a worker may experience fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat and gastrointestinal problems. However, the disease progresses rapidly and infected people experience an abnormal fall in blood pressure and their lungs will fill with fluid. Severe respiratory failure, resulting in death, can occur within a few days of the early stage symptoms.
What is the treatment for Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?
There is no specific vaccine, treatment or cure for Hantavirus infection but early recognition and medical care in an intensive care unit can help with recovery. Infected people may be given medication for fever and pain and oxygen therapy.
What occupations are at risk?
Cases of Hantavirus infection contracted in Canada and the United States have been associated with these activities:
- Sweeping out a barn and other ranch buildings.
- Trapping and studying mice.
- Using compressed air and dry sweeping to clean up wood waste in a sawmill.
- Handling grain contaminated with mouse droppings and urine.
- Entering a barn infested with mice.
- Planting or harvesting field crops.
- Occupying previously vacant dwellings.
- Disturbing rodent-infested areas while hiking or camping.
- Living in dwellings with a sizable indoor rodent population.
How can we prevent exposure to Hantavirus?
Attempt to reduce the presence of mice and limit contact with their droppings, urine and saliva by:
- Storing food (including pet food), water and garbage in heavy plastic or metal containers with tight fitting lids.
- Sealing any holes in structures where mice may enter.
- Cutting back thick brush and keep grass short. Keep woodpiles away from the building.
- Using rubber or plastic gloves when cleaning up signs of rodents, handling dead rodents, or other materials. When finished, clean gloves with soapy water before taking them off. Wash hands with soapy water (again) after removing the gloves.
- Setting traps when necessary. Put rodents in a plastic bag, seal the bag, and dispose.
Dead mice, nests and droppings should be soaked thoroughly with a 1:10 solution of sodium hypochlorite (household bleach). Bleach kills the virus and reduces the chance of further transmission. The contaminated material should be placed in a plastic bag and sealed for disposal. Disinfect by wet-wiping all reusable respirator surfaces, gloves, rubber boots and goggles with bleach solution. All disposable protective clothing, gloves and respirators should be placed in plastic bags and sealed for disposal. Please contact your local environmental authorities concerning approved disposal methods.
Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water after removing the gloves.
Where can I get more information?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia have guidelines that cover a variety of workplace situations. For more details on risk assessment and precautions for specific situations not clearly addressed by existing guidelines contact specific agencies responsible for such detailed information, for example, your local public health office.
Hantavirus. Public Health Agency of Canada
Hantavirus. US Centers for Disease Control
A Hantavirus Exposure Control Program for Employers and Workers. Worksafe BC
"Work Safe"
Events:
Preeceville & District Lions Club Chase the Ace - Minimum Jack-Pot is now at a $9,604.
Chase the Ace has been postponed due to Coronavirus concerns and will resume once it is safe to do so!
Under normal circumstances this would have been grad weekend in Sturgis. Sadly, the celebrations have been put on hold. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Sturgis 2020 Grad Class. Your hard work and perseverance has not gone unnoticed. |
- And as always if you wish to have an event promoted visit and post it to our Community Events Calendar at www.townofPreeceville.ca
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