[ Jon and others at the PianoTech (PTG) list server researched
 [ the health hazards of cleaning pianos.  I combined the messages
 [ (below), which indicate that hantavirus hazard diminishes greatly
 [ a few days after all the live rodents leave or die.  But take
 [ care anyway, and read the data at the referenced web sites!
 [ -- Robbie

  Deadly hantavirus in rodent droppings, more prevalent
  in certain areas of the US.  Described as "usually lethal".
  Do not vacuum without reading health precautions.

   - What is hantavirus?

  It is a virus that causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a
  form of adult respiratory disease syndrome. HPS was first reported
  in the United States in the spring of 1993. As of January 2000, 235
  cases had been reported in the U.S. About 42 percent of the people
  died as a result of the infection.

   - How is a person exposed?

  Deer mice shed the virus in their urine, saliva, and droppings.
  A person may be exposed to hantavirus by breathing dust after
  cleaning rodent droppings or disturbing nests, or by living or
  working in rodent-infested settings.

Type "Hanta Virus" in a search engine, then read up and you just
might want to throw that piano away.  One site is

  http://jenkinsbiopolicy.hypermart.net/mousekit.htm

Be careful,

Jon Page

 = = = =

 From: PDtek@AOL.COM (Dave Bunch)
 Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 23:11:49 EDT
 Subject: Re: Rodent Infestation, new info
 To: pianotech@ptg.org

 After writing to the Center for Disease Control, I found that the
 hantavirus will only survive for 2 to 3 days at room temperature
 after the host rodent is gone or dead.

 If it is obvious that the mice have been long gone (I found a
 dried-up skeleton in one the other day), then it should be safe.

 Dave Bunch

 = = = =

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

Jon Page,   piano technician
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.