With Nigeria currently battling a severe Lassa fever outbreak (recently over 663 cases and 167 deaths according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control), we know all too well the danger of diseases spread by rodents. Now, a new concern is making global headlines: Hantavirus.
Recent deaths on the British cruise ship MV Hondius have put this virus in the spotlight. While the World Health Organization says Hantavirus is unlikely to cause a pandemic like COVID-19, it is still a “serious incident” with a high fatality rate. For a country like Nigeria, where rats and mice are common in homes, markets, and farms, it pays to be prepared.
First, What is Hantavirus?
Think of it as a “cousin” to Lassa fever, but with a different attack method. Hantavirus causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which attacks the lungs and breathing.
According to a United States epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health, Dr. Tracy Murphy, “Anything that puts you in contact with rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials can place you at risk for infection. Infected rodents shed the virus through urine, droppings, and saliva.”
You get infected mainly by breathing in dust from dried rat droppings or urine (a process called aerosolization). You can also get it if the virus enters broken skin, through a rat bite, or if you eat contaminated food.
Symptoms (appear 2–4 weeks after contact): Fever, extreme fatigue, stomach pain, vomiting, and shortness of breath.
The Bad News: No Vaccine
There is currently no vaccine for Hantavirus. The only way to stay safe is prevention.
Here are 7 practical ways to protect your home and family.
1. Declare War on Rodents (Extreme Extermination)
You cannot live peacefully with rats. Block any holes or openings in your walls, doors, and windows where rodents can enter. Use mousetraps, rodent killers (carefully), or even cats. Remove anything that invites them to stay.
2. Store Food and Water Like a Bank Vault
Do not leave food, leftovers, or water open overnight. Store all grains, rice, beans, and garri in tight, covered metal or plastic bins. Keep these bins far away from your trash area. Rats are excellent climbers, so elevate your storage if possible.
3. Clean Your Yard – Don’t Be a Landlord for Rats
Rats love bushes, tall grass, and piles of firewood. Keep your compound clean and dry. Move firewood and scrap metal away from the walls of your house. If you have a bush near your kitchen, clear it.
4. NEVER Sweep Rat Droppings (This is Critical)
This is the number one mistake. Do not sweep or vacuum rat droppings. Sweeping throws the virus into the air for you to breathe.
Instead, do this:
Step 1: Put on gloves (or a thin nylon bag over your hands).
Step 2: Mix 1 part bleach to 9 parts water in a bowl.
Step 3: Spray or pour this mixture generously over the droppings. Let it soak for **10 minutes** (this kills the virus).
Step 4: Wipe up the wet droppings with paper towels or a wet mop. Throw the waste away carefully.
Step 5: Wash your gloves and hands thoroughly with hot soapy water.
5. Don’t Bring Outside Shoes Inside
In many Nigerian homes, we walk everywhere with our outdoor slippers. If you step on rat droppings outside (at the market, bus stop, or gutter), you can track the virus into your house. Leave outdoor shoes at the door. Mop your floors regularly with disinfectant (bleach water).
6. Watch Your Children and “Floor Food”
If your house has rats, do not let your children put toys or random objects from the floor into their mouths. If a biscuit or fruit falls on the floor in a rat-infested room, **throw it away**. Do not just wipe it.
7. Sunlight is Your Friend (For Books & Papers)
Rats love to chew on books, newspapers, and cardboard. If a rat touches a non-food item you cannot throw away (like a textbook or important document):
– Do not just wipe it.
– Place the item outside in direct sunlight for several hours (or inside a clean, rodent-free room for one week). After that time, the virus will be dead and the item is safe to handle.
We are already battling Lassa fever. We do not need Hantavirus. The good news is that the same preventive measures work for both diseases: eliminate rodents, clean safely (never sweep dry droppings), and wash your hands regularly.
Stay safe, and keep your home rat-free.
