Why Hantavirus Risks Demand Specialist Cleaning Expertise
Rodent infestations present more than just a nuisance - they can pose serious health risks, including exposure to Hantavirus, a potentially life-threatening virus transmitted through contact with infected rodent urine, saliva, and droppings.
How you get hantavirus?
Hantavirus is usually spread by breathing in or touching the poo, pee or saliva of infected rats, mice or voles. It's rare in the UK.
You’re more likely to get hantavirus if:
you live or work close to rat or mouse poo and pee
you handle rats, mice or voles
you’ve been bitten by a rat, mouse or vole
It can sometimes spread from person to person, but this is rare.
When rodent droppings are disturbed through sweeping, vacuuming, or improper handling, contaminated particles can become airborne and inhaled, significantly increasing the risk of infection. This is why rodent contamination should never be treated as a standard cleaning task.
At Specialist Cleaning Limited, we provide professional biohazard cleaning services designed to safely remove rodent contamination and reduce the risk of Hantavirus exposure. Our trained technicians use specialist PPE, controlled cleaning methods, and approved disinfectants to safely manage contaminated environments while protecting building occupants.
A key part of our decontamination process is ULV (Ultra-Low Volume) disinfectant fogging, which is highly effective in workplaces, commercial settings or for disinfecting large areas such as entire homes or loft spaces. As Hantavirus is an enveloped virus, it is particularly vulnerable to professional-grade disinfectants delivered through ULV fogging. This method disperses a fine disinfectant mist (or fog) that penetrates hard-to-reach areas, treating surfaces and airborne contamination to help prevent viral spread and secondary contamination.
If you encounter rodent droppings, avoid disturbing the area. Do not sweep or vacuum. Restrict access and contact a specialist cleaning provider immediately.
Using a specialist company like Specialist Cleaning Limited ensures contamination is dealt with safely, thoroughly, and in compliance with health and safety standards—protecting your staff, your premises, and your peace of mind.
We are often asked to attend properties where the loft space has been subjected to a rodent infestation, leading to numerous droppings and urine staining. Loft spaces are challenging environments to work in, they are cramped, offer little head-room and during the warmer months can become extremely hot - this is especially challenging when wearing full PPE and Respiratory Protection. But our team are used to these challenging environments, however much it is uncomfortable we know that it is essential that we protect ourselves, whilst working to protect our clients.
Importantly, we don’t take risks and we believe that you shouldn’t either, which is why we are here. Our industry specific insurance has been modified in conjunction with our under-writers to specifically include loft space work for the removal of biohazard affected items from a loft - to gain this insurance level our staff have undertaken training in Confined Space working to ensure a consistency in our safe working practices.
For professional rodent contamination cleaning and workplace disinfection support, contact Specialist Cleaning Limited.
Symptoms of hantavirus infection may include:
high temperature
body aches and pain
feeling sick or being sick
diarrhoea
tummy pain
headache
shortness of breath
For more information on Hantavirus visit: Hantavirus - NHS or UK Health Security Agency
