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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Didn't know you were not supposed to vacuum mouse droppings

16 replies

dragonfly19 · 07/10/2023 18:37

And now panicking that I may have Huntavirus 😰

Had pest control in. Two mice isolated in one bedroom and was cleaning up after. Used gloves. But was just reading that vacuuming mouse dropping makes the virus airborne and that's how humans become infected! Am freaking out!

I have health anxiety, but also had a headache for the past 2 days.

OP posts:
Deadringer · 07/10/2023 18:42

I have never heard of this, but a quick Google suggests that there are no known cases where people caught hantavisus from humans.

Deadringer · 07/10/2023 18:49

Sorry that should of course say house mice, not humans. And Hantavirus, not hantavisus. 🙄

AnnaMagnani · 07/10/2023 18:58

Given humans have to clear up mouse droppings all the time and the hospitals are not packed with outbreaks of hantavirus, I would suspect the risk is small non-existent

tealgate · 07/10/2023 19:40

What are you supposed to do with them? Leave them? Use tweezers?

RavingStone · 07/10/2023 20:17

We had mice on and off for a few years, before I finally worked out how they were getting in and blocked the hole. Much hoovering, no illness.

snatchabook · 07/10/2023 20:22

I think anything in them would die after a few days (probably sooner) so by the time the mice were caught, disposed of, and you started cleaning, anything in the poo would be dead. If it was even there to begin with.

Firefly1987 · 07/10/2023 20:32

You got pest control in over 2 mice? I wouldn't worry about it, when I was a kid they got in the cereal cupboard and I used to find droppings in my cereal bowl I was about to eat for breakfast. I live in the country, we've had them in a lot. Isn't disease more of a problem with rats anyway? Almost everyone gets mice in the house at some point I would've thought.

We had them in again a couple years ago and it was weeks before I caught them all (trying to figure out where they were coming in, trying to catch humanely so I didn't have to resort to killing etc) by the time I resorted to the snap traps there were 10 altogether😮you never realise how many there are. I'm sure there must've been droppings everywhere. Lesson learnt-nip it in the bud and just get snap traps as soon as you notice any mice activity. But don't worry about getting sick OP I'm sure you're fine if I am!

Autumnunmasks · 07/10/2023 20:34

Blimey I've hoovered up tons of mouse droppings! Live in the country, they're just a given tbh

reallyworriedjobhunter · 07/10/2023 20:37

Same here. Live in an old London terrace and have hoovered up mouse droppings before. Now we have a cat they steer clear. We're all fine.

Bleepbloopbluurp · 07/10/2023 20:40

Hantavirus really isn't an issue in the UK.

Original poster
dragonfly19 · 07/10/2023 20:42

Thanks all. I got pest control in because I knew if there were two, they'd be more. Single mum so nobody to help block holes properly (I did try), and no success with humane traps. Was just reading today that the hoover actually disperses the virus particles in the air and humans become infected by aerosol inhalation.

OP posts:
YellowChrysnthemum · 07/10/2023 20:43

Many mice in more than one property over the years. Hoovering has happened. Hantavirus hasn't. Don't worry!

Firefly1987 · 07/10/2023 21:00

dragonfly19 · 07/10/2023 20:42

Thanks all. I got pest control in because I knew if there were two, they'd be more. Single mum so nobody to help block holes properly (I did try), and no success with humane traps. Was just reading today that the hoover actually disperses the virus particles in the air and humans become infected by aerosol inhalation.

Probably right thing to do to get pest control-you were lucky there were only two. Did they figure out where they were coming in? If you don't get that blocked it'll just keep happening every few months unfortunately. The snap traps really are the best way to deal with them once they're in. I really wanted to go the humane route too but you have to take them miles away or they'll just keep coming back (and you're not supposed to move them elsewhere either apparently) so even though I'm against killing any animal, I resorted to that finally. It's very quick and clean.

BoomBoom0 · 07/10/2023 21:03

I knew that but they've been hoovered before and we're fine. I wouldn't purposefully vacuum them but if it's happened, remember stressing weakens your immune system so try to chill.

Firefly1987 · 07/10/2023 21:06

If you're anything like me you're more likely to have a headache from the cleaning products.

Frlrlrubert · 07/10/2023 23:38

Are you in the UK?

You won't get hantavirus from a mouse in the UK.

You might (but probably won't) get it from a rat. I didn't know that (and I used to keep pet rats).

UK hantavirus risk assessment:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b48a1d6e5274a022f415fb8/HantaRAA2016PHEEformatFINALL_290116.pdf

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