Significantly Reduce Hantavirus Exposure with ROSS Rodent Elimination Program

It’s all over the news. Some people are calling it “the next Covid”. It’s Hantavirus, specifically Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). The scientific name is Orthohantavirus.

While it seems the majority of the country is dismissing this virus in hopes that it just runs its course, there are reasons to be aware and stay vigilant. Fact is, hantavirus is extremely dangerous and should be taken seriously. This virus carries a mortality rate of up to 50% because it can cause severe, rapidly progressing respiratory failure with the lungs filling with fluid.

What’s worse, there are no specific antiviral treatments or widely available vaccine to treat or cure Hantavirus. And while it may take a while for symptoms to appear (generally 1-8 weeks after exposure), the symptoms advance rapidly. It begins with flu-like symptoms, including fever and muscle aches, but can quickly progress to severe illness. The CDC’s Hantavirus resource page is a reliable place to stay informed as this situation develops.

Yes, Hantavirus is certainly a virus you want to avoid at all costs. The good news is that the primary cause of the virus can be nearly 100% preventable, especially with Ross Environmental Solutions in your corner.

The Epicenter of Hantavirus Outbreaks? Rats and Mice

If you’ve lived in New Jersey for a while, you’ve probably seen your share of rats and mice. While these unsightly rodents may be a nuisance, they are also the primary carriers of Hantavirus.

The main culprits of Hantavirus are deer mice, white-footed mice, rice rats and cotton rats. As a resident of New Jersey, you may be wondering which of those rodent species are common to your area. It’s not pretty. Deer mice, white-footed mice, and rice rats are all common in the state. Fortunately, cotton rats are not common up north. The New Jersey Department of Health provides additional guidance on zoonotic disease risks for state residents.

Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease. This means it transmits from animals to humans. How? Cleaning, sweeping, or working in enclosed spaces where rodent waste has accumulated is the primary means of rodent-to-human transmission.

Here are the key Hantavirus transmission methods:

• Inhalation — The most common cause for infection is inhaling aerosolized virus particles from dried rodent waste.
• Direct Contact — Touching urine, droppings, or saliva from infected mice or rats and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Bites — Direct bites from an infected rodent can cause Hantavirus infection.
• Contaminated Food — Eating food that’s been in direct contact with rodents can cause an infection.

No matter what social media may have you believe, human-to-human spread of Hantavirus is quite rare. However, certain Hantavirus strains have shown limited person-to-person transmission, as reported in a recent cruise ship incident.

Eliminate Your Rodent Problem and You Practically Eliminate Hantavirus Exposure

Nobody wants rats or mice in or around their homes. They are filthy, leave nasty droppings, and can cause damage inside your attic and walls. But now that they are known to carry a potentially deadly virus, exposure to these rodents becomes a far more dangerous threat.

If you’ve seen droppings, have foul smells, or seen tracks or other signs of mice or rats, your best course of action is to contact your ROSS Professional Technician. In fact, just to be on the safe side to ensure your home, shed, and yard are free of a Hantavirus threat, we recommend calling Ross Environmental Solutions for a comprehensive rodent inspection.

During the inspection, our experienced team will look for:

• Rodent droppings
• Urine stains
• Track marks
• Gnaw marks
• Rodent sounds and odors
• Signs of burrowing
• Runways
• Grease or rub marks
• Nesting areas
• And more

After conducting a thorough inspection, we will know with confidence if you have a rat or mice problem. We will also know the size and population of the routes taken by the rodents. From there, we activate our Integrated Pest Management rodent elimination program.

Take Action Now to Keep Hantavirus Away

We don’t expect news of Hantavirus exposures to go away. However, you can do something now to actively prevent exposure to Hantavirus and other diseases that rats and mice can cause. Learn more about the full range of pest control services ROSS offers to keep your home and family protected year-round.

The team at ROSS Environmental Solutions is ready to seek out any rodents in and around your home to provide you with peace of mind. With decades of rodent elimination experience, we have the proven approach that keeps your home safe and healthy.

Call ROSS Environmental Solutions of South Jersey today at 1-866-981-1322 for a free estimate and 100% guaranteed pest solution.