The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed on March 7 that a 65-year-old woman from Santa Fe County has died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), marking the first reported case in New Mexico this year. Through the media, the death has been recorded as pianist Betsy Arakawa, actor Gene Hackman’s wife. Hantavirus is a severe respiratory illness caused by the Sin Nombre virus, which is transmitted through contact with infected rodents, or their urine, droppings, or saliva. The virus can become airborne when disturbed, posing risk of inhalation. No evidence of human-to-human transmission has occurred in New Mexico, NMDOH said. “This tragic death reminds us that hantavirus remains a serious public health concern in our state,” said Erin Phipps, NMDOH state public health veterinarian. “While cases are relatively rare, the mortality rate is significant. We urge New Mexicans to take preventative measures seriously, particularly when cleaning areas where rodents may have been present.” Hantavirus was first recognized in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the United States, with most cases occurring in Western states. As of the end of 2022, 864 cases of hantavirus disease were reported in the United States since surveillance began in 1993, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NMDOH confirmed seven cases of Hantavirus in New Mexico last year, followed by seven in 2023, and three in 2022. Early symptoms of a Hantavirus infection may look and feel like the flu or a stomach bug and include fever and muscle aches, possibly with chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cough, which can progress to respiratory distress and severe illness, NMDOH said. Symptoms typically develop within one to six weeks after rodent exposure. Though no specific treatment for Hantavirus exists, chances for recovery are better if medical attention is sought early and the healthcare provider is told about the exposure to rodents or their droppings. The deer mouse is the main carrier for Sin Nombre virus, which is the hantavirus strain found in New Mexico. People are usually exposed to the virus around their homes, cabins or sheds, especially when they clean out or explore enclosed, poorly ventilated areas that have mouse droppings. NMDOH recommends these precautions to reduce hantavirus risk: Air out closed-up structures like cabins and sheds, as well as abandoned or stored vehicles, before entering them. Use traps to control mouse populations. Seal homes, buildings, and shelters to prevent rodents from entering. Disinfect nests and droppings with 10% bleach solution before cleaning up. Never sweep or vacuum rodent droppings. Store hay, wood, and compost away from dwellings. Eliminate trash and junk piles that can harbor rodents. Keep pet food and water in rodent-proof containers.
Arizona public health officials have seen an increase in hantavirus cases—a virus spread by rodents to humans—from the beginning of the year to July 1. Seven human cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) have been confirmed, resulting in three deaths in Arizona. HPS is a severe and sometimes fatal respiratory illness caused by the infection with hantaviruses. Hantavirus is spread primarily from the deer mouse to people through airborne transmission from viral droplets spread through handling or stirring up materials contaminated with rodent urine, saliva, and feces. Hantavirus is not spread person-to-person. Symptoms of the illness can range from fever, headache, and muscle aches to severe difficulty in breathing and, in some cases, death. In the past 15 months, three hantavirus cases have been reported in Arizona’s Coconino County alone— resulting in two deaths. Previously, Coconino County, which is home to Grand Canyon National Park and Sedona, Arizona, last reported a hantavirus case in 2016. HPS is not limited to one geographic location though and can be present in many areas in the West. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracked 850 cases of hantavirus disease in western states from 1993 to 2021.
Public health officials have confirmed a human case of plague in Pueblo County, Colorado. Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) detected the case last week from preliminary tests, and the potential source of the infection is still under investigation. The plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) is transmitted by fleas and cycles naturally among wild rodents. Plague occurs naturally and can infect humans and their pets. People get plague from bites of infected fleas, by touching or skinning infected animals, or inhaling droplets from the cough of an infected person or animal. Typical symptoms of plague include sudden fever and chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of illness. A common symptom of plague is also swollen lymph nodes with pain. “Plague can be treated successfully with antibiotics, but an infected person must be treated promptly to avoid serious complications or death,” said Alicia Solis, PDPHE program manager of the office of communicable disease and emergency preparedness. PDPHE advised individuals to protect themselves and their pets by: Eliminating places that rodents can hide and breed around your home, garage, shed, and recreation area, including remove brush, rock piles, trash, and piles of lumber. Avoiding contact with dead animals. Using insect repellent that contains 20% to 30% DEET to prevent flea bites. Not letting pets sleep in bed with you. Treating dogs and cats for fleas regularly. Not allowing pets to hunt or roam in rodent areas, including prairie dog colonies. Keeping pet food in rodent-proof containers. An average of seven human plague cases are reported each year in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracked. Typically plague occurs in the western U.S., with most cases in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Globally since the 1990s, most human cases occurred in Africa.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Family Dollar Stores LLC, a subsidiary of Dollar Tree Inc., has pleaded to holding consumer products under insanitary conditions, specifically due to a rodent infestation at the company’s West Memphis, Arkansas, distribution center. Family Dollar was charged with one misdemeanor count of causing U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -regulated products to become adulterated while being held under insanitary conditions. The company entered into a plea agreement that includes a sentence of a fine and forfeiture amount totaling US$41.675 million, the largest-ever monetary criminal penalty in a food safety case. According to the plea agreement, Family Dollar began receiving reports in August 2020 of mouse and pest issues with deliveries to its stores. The company admitted that, by January 2021, some of its employees were aware that the unsanitary conditions caused FDA-regulated products held at the warehouse to become adulterated in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Family Dollar continued to ship FDA-regulated products from the warehouse until January 2022, when an FDA inspection revealed live rodents, dead and decaying rodents, rodent feces, urine, odors, and evidence of gnawing and nesting throughout the facility. Subsequent fumigation of the facility resulted in the reported extermination of 1,270 rodents. In February 2022, the company voluntarily recalled all drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and human and animal food products sold since January 2021. The products had been shipped from the distribution center to more than 400 Family Dollar stores in Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. “Consumers trust that products purchased from retail stores such as Family Dollar are safe,” said Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “It is incomprehensible that Family Dollar knew about the rodent and pest issues at its distribution center in Arkansas but continued to ship products that were unsafe and insanitary. Knowingly selling these types of products not only places the public’s health at risk but erodes the trust consumers have in the products they purchase.” Rick Dreiling, Dollar Tree CEO, told NPR, “When I joined Dollar Tree’s Board of Directors in March 2022, I was very disappointed to learn about these unacceptable issues at one of Family Dollar’s facilities. Since that time and even more directly when I assumed the role of CEO, we have worked diligently to help Family Dollar resolve this historical matter and significantly enhance our policies, procedures, and physical facilities to ensure it is not repeated.” For information on keeping your facility free from pest infestations, see Make Your Facility Uninhabitable to Pests.
In a recent press release, pest-control company Orkin revealed its list of the top 50 “rattiest” U.S. cities for 2022, and for the eighth straight year, Chicago ranked first. The Windy City beat out New York and Los Angeles, which took second and third places, respectively. Orkin ranked metro regions by the number of new rodent treatments performed by the company from September 1, 2021, to August 31, 2022. This ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments. According to Orkin, rat infestation tends to increase seasonally, as the temperature drops. Each fall, rodents invade an estimated 21 million homes in the United States. They typically enter between October and February, looking for food, water, and shelter from the cold. Unique to previous years, with the influx of outdoor dining structures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, rodents have found new places to dine, live, and multiply. “Rodent infestations are among the top pest issues of the fall and winter seasons,” said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. “Not only are mice and rats a nuisance, but they are known to spread a variety of dangerous diseases, including Salmonella and Hantavirus.” Rats can also cause structural damage by gnawing on electrical wires, gas lines, and support beams. Because of the threats posed by rats and other rodents, it’s important to know how to spot issues and take a proactive approach. Orkin noted the following as common signs of a rodent infestation: Droppings: Rodent droppings are often left behind in places where food is stored, such as kitchen cabinets or pantries, under sinks, inside chewed cardboard boxes, along baseboards, and on top of wall beams. Gnaw marks: Rodents are known to bite through walls, wood, and wires. The damage to wiring within walls can increase the risk for a fire. Nests: Rodents prefer to nest in dark, secluded areas where there is little chance of disturbance. Be on the lookout for shredded paper products, cotton, packing materials, and other fabrics, as rodents like to build nests out of these materials. Rub marks: Rats tend to leave dark grease or dirt marks along walls and floorboards as they follow a trail throughout the home between their nest and food. Strange noises: Scurrying in the walls could mean a rodent family is present. To help building occupants avoid the potential health and safety risks associated with rodents, Orkin recommends the following tips: Store away food. Small crumbs and garbage are popular food sources, as are dry goods such as grains and cereals. These should be kept in sealed metal or glass containers to prevent contamination. Declutter. Cardboard objects prove attractive to rodents, as they tend to chew them up for use in their nests. Keep all areas clean and organize any crowded spaces. Maintain your landscaping. Tall grass with adequate harborages, such as woodpiles next to the building, can be ideal habitats for rodents. Tree branches in contact with buildings can also offer rodents easy access to the upper levels, where they like to hide. Inspect both inside and outside your home. Keep an eye out for rodent droppings, burrows, and rub marks along baseboards and walls. The sooner rodents are detected, the better. Look for possible entry points. Seal any holes and cracks that are found around the building. Install weather strips around entryways, especially under doors, to help keep out rodents. Be sure to also check out our article regarding a novel method being used to prevent rat infestation: birth control. View Orkin’s complete list of rattiest cities here.
