Generator Services, Inc.
Technical Support Group
P.O. Box 132
Independence, Missouri 64051
1-800-888-4594

June 2, 2000

Re: Biohazard—Hantavirus

To: All generator service customers

Over the last few years, I am sure you have noticed emergency generators are veritable magnets for mice.  When we find infestations we clean them out and repair the damage as a part of our regular maintenance routine.  We have always considered this a distasteful but essential part of our regular maintenance.  Recently, however, it has become more than distasteful.

In May 1993, an unexplained outbreak of pulmonary illness occurred in the “Four Corners” region of the American Southwest.  The disease initially appeared among active healthy people and was most often fatal within a few days.  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta) became involved.  The disease was traced to a virus found in dried rodent urine; specifically urine of the Deer Mouse, although it is also found in excreta of other species such as the Cotton Rat, Rice Rat, and White-footed Mouse.

Many of these species range over a wide area.  The Deer Mouse covers nearly the entire United States.  Even so, reported cases of HPS (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome) remained primarily around the “Four Corners” area.

All that changed over the Memorial Day weekend.  Dr. Emily Senay of CBS reported that HPS has been found on the East Coast with cases in Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York.  In addition, an Associated Press article from Denver on May 30 includes Kansas, California, Vermont, and even Canada.

With this warning in mind I checked out the CDC website.  I suggest you do the same:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/index.htm

Go to Health Topics A-Z and search for Hantavirus.  There are plenty of articles including charts indicating the location of reported cases and therefore the spread of this virus since 1993.

The CDC identified additional cases of HPS in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, and more—31 states in all.

Hantavirus has greater than a 40% mortality rate.  Of the 250 victims who have contracted HPS since its discovery in May 1993, 101 have died!

In light of this high mortality rate, we have no safe choice but to consider each infestation dangerous. With the possible presence of Hantavirus in rodent infested generators and automatic transfer switches I have issued preliminary instructions to my employees as to how to handle rodent mess and disinfect equipment.  I will keep these instructions in force until the CDC offers a better clean-up plan.

I strongly urge you to check out the CDC website and warn your personnel.  HPS is now a fact of life in our environment.  Rodent infestations are no longer a nasty inconvenience, they are potentially fatal.

I have enclosed a copy of the memo I sent to my employees.  You may copy from it to warn your own people.

In the meantime, replace your glue traps every month.  When you trap mice, handle the traps with vinyl gloves, double bag them and throw them away.  (See the CDC website) If we trap them they can’t nest.

Sincerely,
                                                                                                        Generator Services, Inc.

                                                                                                        Paul Harris,
                                                                                                        President

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