Hantavirus is distributed through dust particles. Handwashing is always
a good precaution when handling any potential source of infection but it
won't totally protect you from hantavirus.

*****************************************************************************
Louise Martell
Family and Child Nursing Box 357262
University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7262
e-mail martell at u.washington.edu
*****************************************************************************


On Wed, 4 Oct 1995, Alan Richards wrote:

>
>
> 10/04/95
>
> Is this potentially a problem for those of us who have frequent
> possibility of handling rodents who have died near / in the
> house and then handle them (briefly) to dispose of them?
>
> If so, is washing hands with ordinary soap and water sufficient
> protection?
>
> Alan Richards
>
> ====
>
> re:
>
> Message #28 (44 is last):
> Date: Wed Oct 4 05:36:27 1995
> From: jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Bowling)
> Subject: Hantavirus (was Re. Contents of N. A. Bird Bander)
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Reply-To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>
>
> Jon Anderson relates -
>
> >>Hantavirus: Warning to Bird Banders. C. Stuart Houston. Pp 63-64. Dr
> >>Houston points out that banders working around prey remains of raptor
> >>nests, etc can come into contact with deer mice (Peromyscus spp) and
> >>other rodent remains, and thus expose themselves to this deadly virus.
>
> then Don Baccus says -
>
> >Mountain from molehill??? While a worthwhile note, just how many folks
> >die from hantavirus? How about an article suggesting (indeed, insisting)
> >upon banders wearing seatbelts and shoulder belts enroute to their
> >banding site?
>
> I believe there have been at least two fatalities in BC over the past
> three years from hantavirus. A biologist in Williams Lake in 1993
> almost succumbed but was saved by a heads-up at the local hospital.
> She had contracted the virus from rodent trap boxes which were being
> stored at her residence. The threat is real and should not be taken
> lightly, at least in the hot and dusty interior sites.
>
> -Jack
>
>
> Jack Bowling
> Prince George, BC
> CANADA
> jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca
> ====
>
> --
>
>