Hantavirus Risk from Mouse Infestations: Safe Cleanup Protocol for Texas & Southern US Homeowners (2026)

The Risk Is Real — Hantavirus Kills 38% of Those Infected

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) has a 38% fatality rate according to CDC surveillance data. The virus is transmitted through aerosolized particles from rodent urine, droppings, and saliva — meaning the act of sweeping or vacuuming mouse droppings can create an invisible cloud of infectious particles that you inhale. Between 1993 and 2025, the CDC documented 864 cases in the United States, with Texas accounting for approximately 8% of all cases. The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) is the primary reservoir in the western US and Texas Panhandle; the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) and rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) carry the virus in the southeastern US and Gulf Coast region.

This guide provides the CDC-recommended cleanup protocol for homeowners who discover rodent infestations in attics, crawl spaces, sheds, garages, cabins, and other enclosed spaces. These procedures apply to any area with visible rodent droppings, nesting material, or dead rodents — regardless of whether the species has been identified as carrying hantavirus. Assume all wild rodent droppings are potentially infectious.

Before You Start — When to Call a Professional Instead

Do NOT attempt DIY cleanup if: the infestation covers more than a 10-square-foot area, the droppings are in HVAC ductwork (aerosolization risk is extreme), you have a compromised immune system or respiratory condition, the area has poor ventilation and you cannot open windows, or you are pregnant. Professional bioremediation companies have negative-pressure containment equipment and full-face respirators. The cost ($500-2,000) is negligible compared to the 38% mortality risk of HPS.

CDC-Recommended Cleanup Protocol

1. Ventilate first. Open all windows and doors to the affected area for at least 30 minutes before beginning cleanup. Leave the area during this ventilation period. This allows any aerosolized particles to disperse.
2. Wear PPE. Rubber gloves (not cloth), N95 respirator or better (a dust mask is insufficient), eye protection, and disposable coveralls or clothing that can be immediately laundered. If you do not have an N95 mask, do not proceed — go to a hardware store and buy one first.
3. Do NOT sweep or vacuum dry droppings. This is the critical error that causes most hantavirus infections. Sweeping and vacuuming aerosolize infectious particles. Instead, wet the droppings thoroughly with a bleach solution (1 part household bleach to 9 parts water) or an EPA-registered disinfectant. Let the solution soak for 5 minutes before touching anything.
4. Use damp towels to wipe up. After the 5-minute soak, wipe the area with damp paper towels. Place all towels, droppings, and nesting material directly into a sealed plastic bag. Double-bag it. Dispose of the bag in an outdoor trash container with a secure lid.
5. Clean all surfaces. After removing visible contamination, disinfect all surfaces in the area with the same bleach solution. Pay particular attention to countertops, shelves, and any area where food might be stored.
6. Remove PPE carefully. Remove gloves last. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after removing gloves. Launder clothing immediately in hot water with detergent; do not mix with other laundry.

Hantavirus Risk by Texas Region

Highest risk: Texas Panhandle and West Texas (deer mouse range), Hill Country cabins and barns. Moderate risk: East Texas and Gulf Coast (cotton rat and rice rat range). Lower risk: urban areas with primarily house mouse infestations (house mice have not been documented as hantavirus carriers in the US, but assume all wild rodents are potentially infectious). The key variable is the species of rodent, not the location — if you cannot identify the species, assume the highest risk protocol.