Serious Health Risks Associated with Rodent Droppings
Hanta Virus
HPS is caused by a virus that individuals get through contact with the urine, droppings and saliva of wild mice, primarily deer mice. Breathing small particles of mouse urine or droppings that have been stirred up into the air is the most common means of infection. The illness starts with fever, headache and muscle ache, and progresses rapidly to severe difficulty in breathing and, in some cases, death. The chances of getting HPS are greatest while entering or cleaning enclosed spaces where wild rodents have been present. The chances of getting HPS while participating in outdoor activities, such as hiking, are very low.
About 40 percent of HPS cases are fatal.
California Department of Health Services Hanta Virus