Expert: Walter Hintz - 10/24/2010

Question
Hi,
We have had a mouse infestation in our house.We were seeing them run by every night, and hearing them everywhere.We trapped two and then bought these electronic rodent repellers and we have not seen a mouse in a whole week! But there is the business of cleaning up where they have been. I've heard that Hanta Virus dies in a dropping after a week, but I was wondering how long all germs live in a mouse dropping? How long before all the germs are dead? I've been cleaning up, but I have been finding others that have been tracked thru the house I think, because we have mouse traps set still and there haven't been any mice in the traps or mice we've seen in a week.  I have OCD and am a major germaphobe, and this is really upsetting me. I would like to know how dangerous these droppings really are and how long it takes for the germs in the droppings to die? Thank you!
Lindsay  

Answer
Hi Lindsay
Virus particles are not alive and require living cells to reproduce. Mouse droppings may contain some live cells but they would die quickly so I would not be concerned abut a virus. AS far bacteria are concerned. The chances of house mice carrying harmful germs is unlikely and germs in droppings die quickly. Some bacteria like the tetanus germ can for spores and survive indefinitely but is unlikely these spores would be in droppings so i do not think you should worry about mouse droppings. Besides once you clean them up any threat is gone.  Bacteria are everyplace. They are all over all surfaces including the inside and outside of our bodies and most of them are harmless so there is no reason to be afraid of germs.
 The fact that you got rid of mice with an electronic device was coincidental since they don't work. Stop spending money on this stuff and get a cat