Dave Bunch writes in Digest 00.06.09 :

> 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.

One expert in the Phoenix area said that the Center for Disease Control
would not have stated the issue as described in Dave's mailing.  The
CDC just doesn't have scientific proof to back up this statement, since
there are so many variables associated with the decay.  She indicated
that different strains of Hanta have different rates of decay and that
there are NO scientific facts that back up how long it takes the
urine, saliva, and droppings to be fully safe to humans.

She could say that if the mice were gone for at least a month, it is
probably fairly safe (but not necessarily 100%).   Disinfecting with
a rag and 10% to 20% bleach and water completely rids the area of the
virus.

Stay away from vacuum cleaners or air hoses since this stirs up the
dust which is the main method of infection.  If compressed air is going
to be used for cleaning, first disinfect the main areas using bleach
and a rag and do the rest of the cleaning outside in plenty of fresh
air and light.  Ultraviolet light causes the Hanta virus to decay very
quickly.

I have used bleach and water for removing mice smells for years.  It
works fine for keys and the large wood areas under the keybed and
bottom of the piano.  I don't use bleach on any of the action parts,
pneumatic cloth or leather since this will cause premature aging.

Pete Knobloch