American Pest Experts Advise Precautions Against Rodent-borne Disease, Hantavirus

Washington, DC (March 19, 2025) –  In light of the recent news of a celebrity who died from the effects of Hantavirus, American Pest wants to provide some guidance to protect against the rodent-borne virus that is rare but still poses a significant threat to the health and safety of anyone exposed to a rodent infestation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hantavirus can cause infections or flu-like symptoms when the virus becomes airborne from dried rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. In severe cases, it can develop into Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a life-threatening lung condition that can cause symptoms such as fatigue, fever, muscle aches, chills, and abdominal problems.

Preventing Hantivirus Exposure

Experts at American Pest emphasize the importance of proper precautions to prevent exposure to rodent-related illnesses that can be harmful to your home and environment. As Dr. Kathy Heinsohn, Technical and Training Entomologist at American Pest, advises, “As mouse droppings dry out, they fracture into dust-like particles that can easily be inhaled without realizing it. Having a pest control company regularly inspect your home for entry points and likely traffic areas is the best way to ensure that you and your family are safe from exposure.”

Particularly across the DC, Maryland and Virginia regions – it is advised to check for mouse droppings in seasonally used outbuildings such as sheds, attics, and summer homes/cabins where activity may have occurred over winter. American Pest experts also recommend wetting down areas with dried droppings using a weak ammonia or bleach solution (never mixed together), then wearing N-95 protective respiratory equipment, protective eyewear, and gloves to mop up the damp droppings. Never sweep or vacuum up dried droppings, as this can send more particles airborne.

At American Pest, we’re dedicated to providing safe, effective, and long-term solutions to protect both your home and the environment. Our holistic treatments and sustainable practices include our SMART Rodent Monitoring System, which uses innovative technology to monitor and eliminate rodent activity in your home or business with minimal use of pesticides.

Rodents are tenacious pests that can be hosts for parasites like fleas, ticks, lice, and mites – nuisances and potentially dangerous carriers of illness, and it is not always feasible or possible to prevent them from invading your property. However, if any entry points such as cracks, holes and possible entrances in basements and walls can be filled by a licensed professional, the risk of infestation by rats and mice can be kept to a minimum. For more information about our rodent control services in Washington, D.C., Fulton, Columbia, Alexandria, and throughout MD and Northern VA, please contact us at https://americanpest.net/.

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