WDH: Beware of hantavirus during spring cleaning

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) warns that a serious infection spread by mice, known as hantavirus, remains a public health threat.

Courtney Tillman, a WDH epidemiologist, says, “Though Wyoming doesn’t see many hantavirus cases, it certainly can be a serious illness. About 40% of infections will lead to death.”

Eighteen human hantavirus cases, including seven that resulted in death, have been reported in Wyoming since 1999.

Sick mice can get into garages, campers, old cars, cabins and barns. They spread hantavirus through pee, poop and spit. “If you’re entering and cleaning a place that...