Don’t ‘mouse’ around with spring cleaning, Interior Health warning on hantavirus
Published 12:45 pm Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Beware of rodents when spring cleaning this year.
Interior Health (IH) is warning people of the risks of hantavirus transmission from deer mice.
In a post on Facebook, IH said B.C. has seen a type of hantavirus called Sin Nombre Virus can be contracted by air in places when rodent droppings and urine are disturbed.
Risks are highest in tight spaces that have not been used in a while, like a shed, attic, or cabin, and in places were mice are living, like barns.
Advice to protect one’s self includes maintaining good ventilation, wearing a mask that filters out airborne particles, wearing gloves and goggles, use a damp cloth or mop to avoid stirring up dust with a vacuum or broom, soak rodent droppings and urine with a general purpose disinfectant for about five minutes before cleaning up with a damp cloth or paper towel, throw out used paper towel in a sealed plastic garbage bag and double bag the contents, and thoroughly wash hands with soap and water after removing your gloves.
The health authority noted that the virus cannot be transmitted from person to person.
More information can be found on IH’s website.