Can I get sick from cleaning old mouse nests? YES!!

Question
I have had a respiratory infection for 3 months now.  I have been on 3 rounds of antibiotics, 2 rounds of prednisone, nebulizer treatments, x=rays, and ct scan.  Now I am on 4 different asthma medications.  Thinking back 3 months ago, I remembered cleaning out our basement in which I encountered multiple rodent feces and found and threw away 2 dead mice.  My question:  Can you aquire a lung infection and/or disease from dead mice and from being in their living areas?  If so what can be done?
I appreciate any help you can offer.
Sincerely,
JoAnne Van Sloun


Answer
Dear JoAnne,

YES YOU CAN.  Does your doctor know that you were exposed to old mouse droppings?  The one dangerous illness that mice carry is called Hantavirus. It is caught by breathing in old mouse urine and excrement of infected mice.  It is far more prevalent in certain parts of the country than others. This illness CAN be fatal.  However, I think when it is that serious, the person doesn't last several months.

Here are some links:

where it is:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Hanta/http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/fac...
http://www.scchealth.org/docs/eid/docs/faqs/Hantavirus_faq.html

more info:
http://www.denvergov.org/PetCareandHealth/Hantavirus/tabid/434841/Default.aspx
http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/hanta/hantavirus.aspx
http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/hantavirus.htm
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Hanta/
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/generalinfoindex.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/at_risk.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/prevent.htm
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Long-Term+Studies+of+Hantavirus+Reservoir+Populati...
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Long-term+Studies+of+Hantavirus+Reservoir+Populati...

I HOPE I SCARED YOU FOR NO REASON but it's crucial that your doctor know you were exposed to old mouse nests.

I wish you the best of health,

Natasha