Hanta_Virus_Info.pdf

TAB I.4

Hantavirus

Introduction:

All employees at Death Valley shall be informed of the hazards to which they are exposed on the job. This information is applicable to permanent employees, seasonal employees, volunteers and special groups (Americorps, Science groups, Wilderness clean-up, etc), as well as any dependents in park housing. Housing residents will receive this information in their housing package.

Supervisor Requirement:

Train employee on hazards associated with rodents and potential for Hantavirus within 15 days of hire.

Training Requirement:

1. What is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a very uncommon respiratory disease caused by a virus. The outcome of a Hantavirus infection is very serious, since almost half of all cases (40%) result in death. For this reason, it is important that you are aware of the possible presence of Hantavirus, the symptoms of the disease, and the steps that will help you avoid conditions that could lead to contracting the disease.

The most likely source of human infection is when rodent excreta are inhaled as aerosols or dust, either directly from the animal or from disturbing rodent nests. Other possible routes of transmission include direct inoculation into broken skin or the eye, rodent bites, and ingestion of contaminated food or water. According to the Center for Disease Control, "Overall, the chance of being exposed to Hantavirus is greatest when people work, play, or live in closed spaces where carrier rodents are actively living. However, recent research results show that many people who have become ill with HPS got the disease after having been in frequent contact with rodents and/or their droppings for some time."

2. Where is Hantavirus Found?

The California Department of Health Services studies have shown that Hantavirus is likely to be most everywhere in California and everyone should assume such and take appropriate precautions.

According to Inyo County Environmental Health Services, "The risk of Hantavirus infection in humans is proportional to the frequency with which persons come into contact with infectious rodents, rodent population density, and the prevalence of rodent infection. People involved in activities that bring them in close contact with infectious rodents, their droppings, urine, saliva, and nesting material may be at increased risk of exposure to the disease. Human infection is often associated with the cleaning of rodent infested houses, cabins, trailers, barns, outbuildings, storage facilities, and automobiles that have been closed off or abandoned for extended periods of time….To reduce the risk of exposure, anyone involved in these or similar activities should be prepared to take sensible preventative measures when working or recreating in areas where rodent signs are evident."

3. Carriers in Death Valley

In 2006, forty-five Peromyscus (mice) representing three species were sampled and tested:

42 - P. eremicus (cactus mouse)

A medium-sized, long-haired mouse; tail longer than head and body, not sharply bicolor, but darker above than below; ears large and almost naked; sole of hind foot naked to heel. Can readily be distinguished from other Peromyscus by the combination of long tail, soft pelage, and naked heels.

External measurements average: total length, 7 ¼ inches (185 mm) with tail, 4 inches (102 mm) to hind foot, ear is 20 mm. Weight, .6 to

1.4 ounces (18-40 g).

2 - P. crinitus (canyon mouse)

Canyon mice are small, grayish to yellow-brown above and whitish below. Its distinctive tail is long, more than half its total body length, darkish on top and whitish below, but heavily furred with a tufted tip.

Their ears are smaller than the deer mouse.

Total length is 6 ¼ to 7 ½ inches (152-205 mm), tail length is 2 ¼ to 3 ¾ inches (63-97 mm) and they weigh ¾ to 1 5/8 ounce (20-46 g).

1 - P. maniculatus (deer mouse)

Deer mice are the prototype for "field mice" with large, bulging eyes, big ears, a bicolored pattern and a long tail. The deer mouse coloration is described as "bicolored", meaning it has a distinctly darker upper body coloration compared to the white undersides. The body color varies from a yellowish or reddish brown to grayish above, with pure white undersides and feet. The bicolored body and distinctive large ears distinguish the deer mouse from the introduced house mouse (Mus musculus), which is uniformly gray.

The deer mouse is about 148-200 mm (seven in.) long, including the tail. The bicolored tail is less than 90% of the head and body length.

In a survey of Death Valley mice, fourteen cactus mice and a lone deer mouse were positive for serum antibodies yielding a 33% overall positive rate. One positive was from the Cow Creek Housing area, the rest were all from Scotty’s Castle.

Desert Woodrats, also known as Pack Rats, have also tested positive in Death Valley.

Neotoma lepida (Desert Woodrat / Pack Rat)

This pack rat is 8.5 to 15 inches long.

Their coloring is a pale gray with light undersides, but the fur on the throat region is gray at its base. The tail is distinctly bicolored.

4. Symptoms of Hantavirus

Symptoms of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome usually appear within 2 weeks of infection, but can appear as early as 3 days to as late as 6 weeks after infection. First symptoms are general and flu-like: Fever (101° - 104° F.); headache; abdominal; joint, and lower back pain; and sometimes nausea and vomiting. However, the primary symptom of this disease is difficulty in breathing, which is caused by fluid build-up in the lungs and quickly progresses to an inability to breathe. If you have flu-like illness symptoms coupled with difficulty in breathing after direct or indirect exposure to rodents or rodent excreta, seek professional medical help immediately and make certain you mention the possibility of Hantavirus infection.

5. Hantavirus Cleanup Procedures

The purposes of this informational sheet are:

1. To increase employee and resident awareness of the potential for Hantavirus occurrence,

2. To inform employees of NPS recommended Hantavirus clean up procedures,

3. To inform employees of the basic items required for safe and effective cleanup, and

4. To minimize the potential for exposure to Hantavirus within work areas of the park.

These procedures are designed for routine clean up in areas that are regularly inhabited by people and/or pets. These procedures are NOT intended for use in areas where there is an active rodent infestation characterized by rodent nests and/or large accumulations of rodent droppings. Safe cleanup for an area of heavy infestation requires a properly fitted, half face air purifying respirator and more in depth procedures.

If in doubt – ask your supervisor or the park Safety Manager (x 219).

Items needed:

1. Refer to Castle cleaning plan for authorized cleaning and disinfecting products.

2. Disposable latex or nitrile gloves

3. Plastic trash bags

4. Paper towels or rags

5. Dust mask – optional (Note: A dust mask is not a respirator. It does not provide complete respiratory protection from airborne viral agents such as Hantavirus. It is suggested as an optional precaution to limit exposure to airborne particulates during clean up.)

6. Procedures for Clean-up of Rodent-Contaminated Areas

Areas with evidence of rodent activity (e.g. rodent excreta) should be thoroughly cleaned to reduce potential exposure to Hantavirus-infected materials. Cleanup procedures must be performed in a manner that limits the potential for aerosolization of dirt or dust from all potentially contaminated surfaces and household goods. Do not sweep droppings, urine or nesting materials, as contaminated dust will become airborne.

1. The first step when cleaning an indoor area suspected of being contaminated is to open doors and windows and allow the space to vent naturally for a minimum of 2 hours.

2. Never touch a rodent, its discharges, or contaminated traps with your bare hands.

Always wear disposable gloves. Keep your hands away from your face and do not eat or drink while cleaning.

3. At home, spray dead rodents, traps, rodent nests, excreta, or other items tainted by rodents with any household disinfectant (Lysol™) or a 10% bleach solution

(approximately 1 1/2 cups bleach per gallon of water). Use of the household disinfectant on fabrics and carpets that may be damaged by a bleach solution is not recommended.

Note: Make a fresh solution for each clean up since the solution loses effectiveness 24 hours after mixing.

DO NOT USE BLEACH SOLUTION WITHIN SCOTTY’ CASTLE. If an item is historic, or if you are unsure, contact a Cultural Resources representative.

4. Apply the disinfectant or bleach mixture to thoroughly soak the contaminated material and wait 15 to 30 minutes.

5. Use paper towels or rags to pick up the soaked material. Carefully place the picked up materials including dead rodents and contaminated traps into a plastic trash bag. Snap traps and dead rodents should be disposed of together. Never reuse a contaminated snap trap.

6. Seal the trash bag, being careful not to exhaust the air in the bag towards your face when closing it. Place the sealed bag into a second bag, along with the disposable gloves. Seal the second bag and discard in an outside garbage container such as the NPS dumpsters.

7. After the material has been removed, disinfect floors, counter tops, cabinets, drawers, and other durable surfaces by mopping /washing with household disinfectant or bleach solution. Wait 15 to 30 minutes for disinfection to occur before utilizing those areas.

8. When cleaning is completed, thoroughly clean any tools with disinfectant or bleach solution. Allow tools to thoroughly air dry before handling with bare hands.

9. Disinfect gloves before removing them.

10. WASH YOUR HANDS with soap and warm water before beginning any other activity.

7. Prevention

To further our goal of ensuring that no one becomes the first person to contract the disease while working or living in the park, park's Safety Officer has developed a Hantavirus Cleanup Kit which is being distributed to all work areas and residences. The Cleanup Kit contains the recommended procedures and items for safe and effective routine cleanup of in areas that are regularly inhabited by humans and free from rodent nests or large accumulations of rodent droppings. As an additional safeguard, a Hantavirus awareness fact sheet is being posted in backcountry cabins to educate park visitors about possible Hantavirus presence in the park.

Be mindful that personal boxes and items stored in garages, storage facilities, or anywhere mice might enter, may be contaminated. Check boxes and other items when packing to move so that you do not aid in the spread of the Hantavirus.

8. Prevention of Rodent Infestation

To eliminate rodents and reduce the availability of food sources and nesting sites used by rodents inside homes, offices, and other buildings:

1. Keep food (including pet food) and water covered and stored in rodent-proof metal or thick plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.

2. Store garbage inside homes in rodent-proof metal or thick plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.

3. Wash dishes and cooking utensils immediately after use and clean up any spilled food.

4. Do not leave pet food in feeding dishes.

5. Dispose of trash and clutter.

6. The NPS Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program recommends spring-loaded traps (snap traps) to control rodents. Rodent glue boards (sticky traps) and rodenticides are not supported by the NPS IPM program and should not be used in Death Valley NP.

7. If there is a persistent rodent problem in a building, arrange for an inspection by the Buildings and Utilities Supervisor, Resource Management Division, or Park IPM coordinator.

To prevent rodents from entering homes, offices, and other buildings:

1. Use steel wool or 1/4" hardware cloth (wire mesh) to seal, screen, or otherwise cover all openings into the home which have a diameter >1/4 inch.

2. Place metal roof flashing as a rodent barrier around the base of wooden, earthen, or adobe dwellings up to a height of 12 inches and buried in the soil to a depth of 6 inches.

3. Establish short-term, environmentally sensitive, pest control programs.

To reduce rodent shelter and food sources within 100 feet of homes.

1. When possible, place woodpiles 100 feet or more from homes and elevate wood at least 12 inches off the ground.

2. Store grains and animal feed in rodent-proof containers.

3. Near buildings, remove food sources which might attract rodents or store food and water in rodent-proof containers.

4. Dispose of garbage and trash in rodent-proof containers that are elevated at least 12 inches off the ground.

5. Haul away trash and other items that may serve as rodent nesting sites.

6. Cut grass, brush, and dense shrubbery within at least 30 feet of residences. Do not use dense ground covers in landscaping.

7. Place spring-loaded rodent traps in areas of rodent activity or shelters and along rodent runways with the trap trigger towards the wall. Traps can also be tied to pipes or rafters if necessary. Traps should be located where children or pets are not likely to contact them. Set traps should be checked daily and replaced when a rodent is found in the trap.

8. Eliminate standing water (barrels, buckets), leaking faucets or pipes, etc.