RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Tribal and health officials are urging residents on the Pine Ridge Reservation to take precautions after hantavirus was detected in the area, especially as changing weather conditions may be driving more rodents indoors.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe Emergency Management issued a public health alert following notification from Pine Ridge Indian Health Service that hantavirus had been detected on the reservation.
Officials said recent weeks of drought, severe storms and wildfires may be contributing to increased rodent activity as mice and other rodents look for shelter in homes, vehicles, barns and sheds.
Health officials emphasized that residents should not panic or avoid contact with family members, friends or neighbors because of the detection.
According to the Indian Health Service, the strains of hantavirus associated with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the United States are not known to spread from person to person.
Instead, people generally become infected after coming into contact with infected rodents or materials contaminated by rodent urine, droppings, saliva or nesting materials.
The greatest concern can come when contaminated materials are disturbed, potentially sending particles into the air that can then be inhaled.
That can make it extremely important to take care when cleaning a garage, opening an unused shed or preparing a cabin.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe Health Administration recommends disinfecting areas contaminated by rodents before cleaning them.
Officials recommend using a household bleach solution made with one part bleach to 10 parts water. Contaminated droppings and materials should be thoroughly soaked with the solution and allowed to sit for at least five minutes before being wiped up.
EPA-registered disinfectants labeled as effective against hantavirus can also be used according to their instructions.
Potentially contaminated fabrics should be washed in hot water and dried using a high-heat setting, according to health officials.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used for hand hygiene when soap and water aren’t available, but officials said it should not replace proper cleanup procedures.
Officials are warning residents against dry sweeping, dusting or vacuuming rodent droppings.
Those activities can stir contaminated particles into the air and increase the risk of exposure. Wet-cleaning methods are recommended instead.
Residents should also look for signs of rodents around homes and outbuildings and seal openings where possible to prevent rodents from getting inside.
OST Emergency Management said the tribe will work with all nine districts in the coming days to make disinfectants and basic cleaning supplies available through district service centers.
Officials are also encouraging residents to rely on information from trusted sources, including the Indian Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities, rather than unverified information shared online.
Hantavirus infections are rare but can become serious. Officials say taking precautions when cleaning areas where rodents may have been present can help reduce the risk as the reservation continues to deal with an active and challenging weather season.
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