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Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, or HPS, is a severe illness that is caused by a
virus.
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This rare disease was first described in the southwestern United States in 1993. It is believed that the
virus has been present for a long time, but was only just recently recognized. Only about 300 (July 2001 data) cases have been reported in all of the United States and Canada. The
first time HPS was found in Canada was in 1994, when 3 cases were reported in British Columbia. Since then, cases of HPS have been identified in four western provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, & Manitoba); hantavirus-associated illness has not been
documented in eastern Canada. To date, 44 laboratory-confirmed cases of HPS have been reported in Canada.
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HPS begins as a flu-like illness. In the early stage of the disease, a person may have a fever, sore muscles, headaches, feel sick to their stomach, throw up, and have shortness of breath. Most patients need to go to the hospital and get
intensive care. Some patients may be given anti-viral drugs. As the disease gets worse, fluid builds up in the lungs, making it harder to breathe. In North America, about 1 out of 3 people with HPS have died.
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The
virus is normally found only in rodents, especially deer mice, but also rats and other kinds of mice. Domestic pets are not believed to be a source of infection. Seropositive (tests
positive for exposure to the
virus based on immunological tests) deer mice have been identified from British Columbia to Newfoundland; however, the distribution of infected mice is discontinuous.
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People acquire HPS when they breathe in the
virus
that is found in the urine, saliva or droppings of infected rodents. In rare cases, it may be spread through small breaks in the skin, or by rodent bites. The disease does not seem to spread from one person to another. Always wash your hands after
touching any rodents or their droppings.
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For most people, the risk of catching HPS is very low. However, people who live in areas where the
virus is present, and who come in close contact with rodent burrows, or are exposed to the saliva, urine or droppings of rodents, are at some risk of catching the
virus. People at most risk of catching HPS include anyone who frequently handles/traps or is exposed to rodents, such as wildlife biologists, pest exterminators, people who often find
themselves working in attics or crawl spaces, or who are involved in cleaning or major renovations of homes that have been infested with rodents, animal herders, or those involved with hand plowing and planting field crops.
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People in “higher risk” environments should take special precautions during their work, including wearing protective clothing and using any one of several respiratory (breathing) protection devices. If you are doing any of these
activities you should use only respiratory protective equipment equipped with NIOSH 100 series filters (N100, P100, and R100) or high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. They are available at safety supply houses and at some building and hardware stores. For more
information about these masks, contact the nearest office of the Workers Compensation Board (WCB).
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