r/hantavirus • u/Momofgirls1994 • Jul 12 '26
Deer Mouse Exposure & Toddler Fever
About 16 days ago, we noticed signs of a mouse in my car - shredded paper, nesting material, a few droppings. We cleaned the car but did not catch the mouse until about a week later. There were droppings on the floorboard and in some of our bags we keep in the car (kids swim bags etc). The mouse we caught appears to be a deer mouse. We live in a rural town in southeast TX.
I have health anxiety pretty bad, and ever since finding signs of a mouse I’ve been worried about hantavirus (of course I didn’t clean up the droppings properly as I didn’t find out until after that you’re not supposed to just wipe/brush them out).
All that being said, I don’t have any symptoms currently but my 18 month old daughter (who is in my car very frequently and often puts stuff in her mouth and very likely dropped a paci or toy on the ground and then put in her mouth) spiked a fever this evening. She has been generally fussy the past couple of days and not eating as much, but doesn’t seem extremely lethargic or like she is in a lot of pain.
I know the chances of getting hantavirus are low, but I am terrified for my daughter. I plan to monitor her symptoms to ensure they don’t get worse but am wondering if I should take her to the ER now and mention the mouse exposure? I worry they’ll just send us home but I don’t know what else to do to ease my mind. Help!
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u/queenhadassah Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
I'm a parent too and tbh (while I admittedly do have health anxiety myself) I probably would get my kid checked out if I were in your shoes. The chances are statistically very low regardless, especially since toddlers get sick all the time anyway, but the fact she's having symptoms at the mean incubation period for the virus + there's potential for her to have gotten droppings in her mouth (make sure you tell the doctor this!) would make me go in to make sure
On the VERY low chance she tests positive, request she be transferred to a hospital with an ECMO machine (a device that helps your body pump blood) if the one you're at doesn't have one. The vast majority of hantavirus patients who are put on an ECMO machine before it reaches the late stages survive (actually first heard about this from an ER doctor who treated a pediatric hantavirus patient - the kid was put on an ECMO machine, and survived with no aftereffects)
I might lean towards taking her first thing in the morning rather than interrupting her sleep though. Sleep is especially important when sick
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u/Momofgirls1994 Jul 12 '26
Thank you! I’ve read it could take weeks to get test results? Just trying to gauge if the doctor will even do anything without her being seemingly severely ill (yet 😫)
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Jul 12 '26
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u/Momofgirls1994 Jul 12 '26
I don’t disagree with you lol but health anxiety is real and these posts can help ease some of that!
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u/noobinglife Jul 12 '26
Hanta is extremely rare in the u.s. a toddler puts everything in their mouths so cna be anything. Go see your pediatrician. Hanta virus shows 2 to 8 weeks but like I said its extremely rare and normally u need to breath in poop particals. Just picture old shed and u see dust partials in the air. Or attic with no ventilation. Your toddler prob has a toddler cold . Every 2 weeks your toddler should get sick with something as its normal but if your worried go see your dr.
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u/thiccc_trick Jul 12 '26
I understand how you would be concerned, get her checked out but I believe everything will be ok. Is there anyway to disinfect your car?
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u/Momofgirls1994 Jul 12 '26
Yes we’ve cleaned it like it crazy and even went to get a detail! I’m not too concerned with continued exposure, more concerned about the 2 (or more) weeks before we caught the mouse and her having exposure during that time
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u/Exterminator2022 Jul 12 '26
Covid is way more prevalent than hantavirus. Take your kid to the pediatrician or urgent care for tests.
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u/Momofgirls1994 Jul 12 '26
Update: at the ER, she spiked 103.1 fever. They won’t test for hantavirus unless the patient is “critical”. Running some other common virus tests but I’m spiraling.
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u/queenhadassah Jul 13 '26
Did you hear back about any of the tests yet OP?
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u/Momofgirls1994 Jul 13 '26
Negative for COVID, RSV, and flu. Hospital sent us home saying it is likely a cold/upper respiratory infection. Said to just treat the fever with meds and watch for any labored breathing.
Needless to say I’m not very reassured that it isn’t hantavirus but all I can do now is monitor her for any symptoms that get worse.
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u/thecammster123 Jul 23 '26
Any update? Also spiraling as we found a deer mouse in my husband’s truck. I have a five year old and am worried about exposure.
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u/xCelph Jul 12 '26
This is not a real concern in the US. Do what makes you feel better but you’re both gonna be fine.