Three core principles
- Keep rodents out. Most exposures come from rodent-occupied indoor spaces.
- If you see signs, clean wet, not dry. Aerosol generation is the danger; soaking neutralises it.
- Use PPE for cleanup in heavy-infestation spaces. Especially in endemic regions.
Rodent-proofing the home
- Seal openings ≥ 6 mm (¼ inch) — mice can fit through gaps you can pass a pencil through. Use steel wool, copper mesh or hardware cloth, then caulk.
- Store food (including pet food) in metal or thick-plastic sealed containers.
- Remove rodent attractants outside: woodpiles, junk piles, debris within 30 m / 100 ft of the home.
- Keep grass mowed; trim shrubs and tree branches away from the building.
- Use snap traps or ECTOR-style traps; avoid glue traps near children/pets.
- Secure compost; store grain in metal containers.
Safe cleanup of rodent-occupied spaces
The cardinal rule: do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings. Both generate aerosols. Use a wet method:
- Ventilate the space — open doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before entering.
- Wear gloves (rubber, latex or vinyl). For heavy infestations or in endemic regions, add an N95 respirator and goggles.
- Spray droppings, urine, nesting material and dead rodents with a freshly prepared 10% bleach solution (1 part household bleach + 9 parts water) or an EPA-registered disinfectant. Soak for at least 5 minutes.
- Wipe up with paper towels and place in a sealed plastic bag, then a second bag, and dispose with regular trash.
- Mop floors and clean surfaces with disinfectant. Wash any cloths used in hot water.
- Wash gloved hands with disinfectant, remove gloves, wash hands thoroughly.
Long-closed cabins, sheds and vehicles
Cabins or sheds left closed for weeks or months are higher-risk environments. Open everything for at least 30 minutes before entering. If droppings are visible, treat as above. Consider postponing cleaning until you have appropriate PPE if you are in an endemic area.
Travel guidance for endemic regions
- Patagonia / Andes virus areas (Argentina, Chile) — avoid sleeping in cabins or campsites with visible rodent signs. Choose accommodations that demonstrate rodent control.
- Northern Europe (Puumala) — the practical risk is lower (Puumala is mild) but cabin-related cases are common in autumn. Air out summer cabins before use.
- Eastern Asia (Hantaan) — agricultural and rural settings carry the highest risk; outdoor work with grain, rice or hay is a known exposure setting.
- Carry hand sanitiser, avoid sleeping directly on the ground in rural areas, and report flu-like illnesses with respiratory symptoms within ~5 weeks of return to a doctor with a full travel history.
Vaccines
Vaccines are available for Hantaan-family viruses in South Korea and China (Hantavax / inactivated bivalent vaccines). They are not generally available outside East Asia and do not protect against New World hantaviruses such as Sin Nombre or Andes. Several next-generation candidates are in clinical development globally.
What does not reduce risk
- Mosquito repellents and bed nets (not vector-borne).
- Antiviral chemoprophylaxis (no evidence for routine use).
- Surgical masks against dry rodent dust (use N95-class respirators).
Sources: CDC "Cleaning Up After Rodents", ECDC factsheet on Hantavirus infections, WHO regional bulletins. See /sources. Not medical advice.