We use only the most humane and advanced techniques.

Public health importance of rabies:
Over the last 100 years, rabies in the United States has changed dramatically. More than 90% of all animal cases reported annually to CDC now occur in wildlife; before 1960 the majority were in domestic animals. The principal rabies hosts today are wild carnivores and bats. The number of rabies-related human deaths in the United States has declined from more than 100 annually at the turn of the century to one or two per year in the1990's. Modern day prophylaxis has proven nearly 100% successful. In the United States, human fatalities associated with rabies occur in people who fail to seek medical assistance, usually because they were unaware of their exposure.

Fishbein, D.B., Miranda, N.J., Merrill, P., Camba, R.A., Meltzer, M., Carlos, E.T., Bautista, C. F., Sopungco, P.V., Mangahas, L.C., Hernandez, L.M., Leoncio, M.M., Mercado, D., Gregorio, S., Salva, E., Dobbins, J.G., & Winkler, W.G. (1991). Rabies control in the Republic of the Philippines: benefits and costs of elimination. Vaccine,9, 581-588.

Uhaa, I.J., Dato, V.M., Sorhage, F.E., Beckley, J.W., Roscoe, D.E., Gorsky, R.D., & Fishbein, D.B. (1992). Benefits and costs of using an orally absorbed vaccine to control rabies in raccoons. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 201(12), 1873-1882.

Meltzer, M.I. & Rupprecht, C.E. (1998). A review of the economics of the prevention and control of rabies -- Part 1: global impact and rabies in humans. Pharmacoeconomics, 14(4), 365-383.

Meltzer, M.I. & Rupprecht, C.E. (1998). A review of the economics of the prevention and control of rabies -- Part 2: rabies in dogs, livestock and wildlife. Pharmacoeconomics, 14(5), 481-498.

Meltzer, M.I. (1996). Assessing the costs and benefits of an oral vaccine for raccoon rabies: a possible model. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2, 343-349.

HANTAVIRUS PULMONARY SYNDROME

I've been hearing about Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in the news recently? What is it?
HPS is a serious respiratory disease carried by certain wild rodents, mainly deer mice, and is passed to humans through contact with a rodents infected urine, droppings or saliva. Breathing in contaminated mist or dust is the most common form of transmission.

How serious is it?
HPS is extremely serious and can be fatal; the case fatality rate is high. As of June 19, 1998, there have been 185 cases recognized nationwide with a case fatality of 44 percent. In Colorado, there have been 13 cases resulting in 9 deaths for a fatality rate of 69 percent.

Is there more risk of HPS this year due to the wet weather?
This year there have been increased populations of some rodent hosts of hantaviruses in some areas because of increased vegetation resulting from wetter than usual weather. This increase is unlikely to be statewide, but in order to prevent HPS, precaution is recommended. As always, if you notice increased numbers of wild mice in rural areas, steps should be taken to minimize human contact with these rodents.

Who can get HPS?
Since the virus is carried by deer mice and other wild rodents, persons who are exposed to infected rodents or rodent-infested areas are at risk of contracting HPS. This would include persons living or working in rural or semi-rural areas of Colorado. Deer mice and other rodents that carry HPS are generally not found in urban or suburban settings.

How can one get HPS?
The infected rodents excrete the virus in their urine, droppings, and saliva. These droppings contaminate dirt and dust that becomes airborne. People are infected by inhaling airborne particles of the virus or by direct contact with rodents, their droppings, or nests.

What is the incubation period?
The incubation period varies widely, but ranges from 1 to 6 weeks, with an average of 2-3 weeks.

What are the symptoms?
The early symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle pain, severe abdominal, joint and lower back pain, nausea and vomiting. A cough and shortness of breath usually develops 1 to 5 days after the onset of symptoms. The primary symptom of HPS is difficulty in breathing due to fluid build-up in the lungs. This can quickly progress to respiratory failure.

How is HPS treated?
Currently there is no effective drug treatment for HPS. When HPS infection is suspected or confirmed, early admission to a hospital where careful monitoring, treatment of symptoms, and good supportive therapy can be provided is important. If you have had exposure to rodents and experience symptoms mentioned above, it would be helpful to mention the exposure to your physician. A quick diagnosis helps the physician take the appropriate measures in managing the patient.

How can HPS be prevented?
Avoid rodent contact by taking the following measures:
1.Always limit food sources that will attract rodents both inside and outside the home. Keep pet food and livestock feed in rodent-proof containers. Clean-up spills from bird feeders.
2.Limit possible nesting sites in or near the home. Keep grass and vegetation near homes trimmed short. Store firewood above ground and away from the house. Remove wood and junk piles, abandoned vehicles, equipment and other sources of shelter from the property.
3.Prevent rodent entrance into the home. Seal all holes or cracks 1/4 inch or larger with steel wool, caulking, metal screening or flashing. Insure weather seals under doors are in good repair and fit tightly when the door is closed.
4.If rodents are present in the home, eliminate them by using Asnap-traps@ baited with a peanut butter/oatmeal mix. Trapping success will be increased if food sources have been eliminated and entrances to the building sealed to keep new mice from moving in. Continue trapping efforts as long as rodent presence is suspected in the home.
1. Use a solution of household bleach (one cup bleach per gallon of water) to disinfect rodents carcasses before handling. Spray the rodent and trap and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes Wear rubber gloves when handling trapped rodents. Disinfect the gloves and the trap afterward.
2. Air out rodent infested buildings or areas at least 30 minutes before cleaning. Do not sweep or dry vacuum rodent contaminated surfaces which may stir up the dust and allow potentially contaminated dust to be breathed in. Spray contaminated materials with the bleach solution and allow it to soak in 5-10 minutes before cleaning them with a mop, sponge or wet (shop) vacuum. Wear gloves.
3. In heavily rodent infested areas or situations where ventilation and/or wet clean-up can not be effectively done, use a face mask with a high efficiency particulate air (HEAP) filter.
4. When camping or sleeping outdoors, avoid disturbing or sleeping near rodent droppings and/or burrows. Sleep in tents with floors, above ground or on a ground cloth, not directly on the ground.

Where can I obtain information about HPS?
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has a hantavirus hotline that provides information about the disease and prevention tips for reducing the risk of exposure. The number is (303) 692-2667.

To obtain a free brochure: Contact the State Health Departments Information Center at (303) 692-2035 or toll-free 1-800-886-7689.

Information provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

To multiply, Histoplasma capsulatum produces small spores called conidia. The conidia of Histoplasma capsulatum are only two millionths of a meter (microns, µm) in diameter. When these conidia are inhaled, they are small enough that they enter the lungs and start an infection. Many of these infections are easily overlooked because they either produce mild symptoms or none at all. However, histoplasmosis can be severe and produce an illness similar to tuberculosis.

How can we prevent histoplasmosis?
Prevention of histoplasmosis relies on avoiding exposure to dust in a contaminated environment. Before anyone cleans chicken coops or other contaminated soil, spraying with water is advisable to reduce dust. Decontamination with 3% formaldehyde has been shown to be effective.

However, formaldehyde solutions should be used with caution since this chemical may cause adverse health effects following inhalation, ingestion, or skin or eye contact.

Persons working in contaminated areas should use protective clothing such as gloves and coveralls. They should also use a respirator equipped with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that is capable of filtering particles down to two microns in size. Such respirators are suitable as long as the occupational exposure limit for formaldehyde is not exceeded. For major clean up operations of prolonged exposure, a powered air purifying or supplied air respirator may be necessary.