Tips to avoid deadly hantavirus, spot symptoms

A grieving mother is trying to educate people about the rare but deadly hantavirus, as health officials in Saskatchewan are issuing their annual warning about the disease. 

• Grieving family warns others of rare but deadly hantavirus

Hantavirus, which killed 26-year-old Robyn Young in June 2014, is transmitted by breathing in contaminated particles from deer mice droppings, urine and saliva.

Young's mother Julia McIsaac is hoping doctors in western Canada — where all but one of the country's cases have occurred — get educated, along with their prospective patients.

Hantavirus symptoms, which are flu-like in nature, include:

• Fever.
• Muscle aches. 
• Coughing. 
• Headaches.
• Nausea. 
• Vomiting. 
• Shortness of breath. 
• Respiratory failure. 

Health officials say people should seek medical attention if the symptoms arise within one to six weeks of exposure to rodent droppings. 

​The Ministry of Health has a number of tips when cleaning rodent-invested areas, including:

• Ensure the area is well-ventilated and air it out at least 30 minutes before cleaning.
• Use a wet mop and wear rubber or plastic gloves.
• Wear goggles and a filter mask when cleaning areas that are contaminated.
• Dampen contaminated areas with bleach disinfectant and remove the droppings with a damp mop or cloth
• Avoid dusting, sweeping and vacuuming areas.
• Steam clean, shampoo or spray furniture with soap, disinfectant or a bleach and water mixture.
• Wash clothes and bedding with soap and hot water.

There have been 30 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in Saskatchewan since 1994, 10 of which resulted in death.