Willard's Pest Control Serves the Greater Seattle Area As Well As Snohomish, King, Pierce, Kitsap, Kittitas & Thurston Counties
Commercial - Residential - Industrial
Willard's Pest Control Company
Seattle 
(206) 246-1992Eastside (425) 820-1980South End (206) 824-1257
(206) 246-1992Eastside (425) 820-1980South End (206) 824-1257Snohomish (360) 794-3464Yakima (509) 453-0221Kitsap (360) 794-3464
Yakima (509) 453-0221Kitsap (360) 794-3464Hantavirus
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is carried by deer mice in their saliva, urine, and droppings. Deer mice pass the virus to each other without showing any signs at all of being sick. In Washington, about 14% of the deer mice tested are infected with HPS and anywhere from one-third to 50% of the people diagnosed with HPS have died. HPS is not passed from human to human.
Early symptoms of HPS include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal problems like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Early symptoms are often confused with the flu.
There is a short period where the early symptoms subside and the person feels better. This is followed by seepage into the lungs of fluid and difficulty breathing. The patient ultimately develops respiratory failure. There is no effective treatment available for HPS.
HPS is typically contracted by breathing in infected airborne particles of deer mouse urine or feces. This usually happens when cleaning out a cabin, attic, garage, basement, camper, or storage shed that maintains a deer mouse infestation. Deer mice are usually found in rural areas. There is no accurate information on how long the virus is viable in urine or droppings, so all infestations should be considered infectious. For more information on Hantavirus consult the Center for Disease Control or your local health department.
If you believe you have a deer mouse problem consult your Willard's Pest Control professional for a free inspection and evaluation.
Eastside
South End
Snohomish
Yakima
Kitsap
(425) 820-1980
(206) 824-1257
(360) 794-3464
(509) 453-0221
(360) 794-3464
(206) 246-1992
