babq42
10-01-17, 02:31
Right now I'm in New Mexico for a school trip, serving on a Native American reservation for a school trip. We're staying in a trailer home and immediately I noticed mouse poop near the walls, under the sink, in cabinets. I myself haven't disturbed them, although I have pulled things out from under the sink, but my peers have, and I'm worried that we may have been exposed to hantavirus. From what I know, this usually occurs during the spring/summer in confined places with large infestations. Still, I know New Mexico (thanks to Google) has had the highest number of hantavirus cases in the States, and this concerns me. I know it's incredibly rare, but hypochondria says otherwise, you know? Also, there's been no evidence of current mice activity, at least not since we've arrived.
Plus, today, cleaning and pulling weeds in a cemetery in town, I'm afraid I may have disturbed dust full of mice feces and urine while moving sticks. Of course hantavirus is almost always caught in confined spaces, and outside, in the elements, it can only survive for a short time.
Basically I just want some input here. I want to enjoy the rest of this trip without worrying, and given that I can't really do anything about right now, it seems I have no other choice. This isn't my first health scare and probably won't be my last, but when I return home, I'll definitely be seeking treatment. If anyone can enlighten me on some facts on hantavirus that may allay my fears, or simply tell me that I'm nuts and hantavirus is rare, that would be greatly appreciated.
Plus, today, cleaning and pulling weeds in a cemetery in town, I'm afraid I may have disturbed dust full of mice feces and urine while moving sticks. Of course hantavirus is almost always caught in confined spaces, and outside, in the elements, it can only survive for a short time.
Basically I just want some input here. I want to enjoy the rest of this trip without worrying, and given that I can't really do anything about right now, it seems I have no other choice. This isn't my first health scare and probably won't be my last, but when I return home, I'll definitely be seeking treatment. If anyone can enlighten me on some facts on hantavirus that may allay my fears, or simply tell me that I'm nuts and hantavirus is rare, that would be greatly appreciated.