should I be worried abour deer mouse bite?

Question
Hi!
We found a small deer mouse and thought it to be sickly. Fed it some fish crackers and kitten formula. It maybe was scared and bit me but the skin did not bleed. That night in its cage it woke up seemed fine so we released it in the woods. Should I be concerned if hantavirus or rabies? There are no known rabies cases where I live in Canada but I am still scared.
Thanks so much,
Tara

Answer
Dear Tara,

Because you are in Canada, I do not know if the US Center for Disease Control has detailed information on where any cases of hantavirus may have occurred. Go to cdc.gov and see. Unless there have been several or recent cases near you, don't panic. Although the websites like the CDC do warn about bites, they use phrases like "scientists surmise" that you could get it from a bite. That means it has never happened but they don't want to be sued if it does.

If I were you I would not worry. BUT if in the next month you come down with a horrible flu, get to the doctor or ER right away and tell them about the bite.

As for rabies, for one, if there have been no cases near you it is not much a concern. Also, rabies would most probably kill a mouse before it gave it to you. Lastly, I have been told - but will not swear to the truth of- that you can't get rabies from a mouse anyway. So again, I would not worry.

I can't tell you it would be impossible, mostly because I could get sued!

Thank you for caring about the little thing. You certainly saved its life. And thank you for forgiving it for the bite?

Squeaks n giggles,

Natasha