A Brush With a Deadly Virus
Most Canadians have never heard of hantavirus. But for one British Columbia man, it's not a distant medical footnote — it's the reason he says he feels "very fortunate" to be alive today.
The B.C. resident is now speaking publicly about his near-fatal experience with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare but serious illness contracted through contact with infected rodents — typically deer mice — or their droppings, urine, and nesting materials. Three years after his diagnosis, he's using his story to raise awareness about a disease that most people don't know exists until it's too late.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is caused by the Sin Nombre virus, carried primarily by deer mice across North America. Humans typically contract it by inhaling airborne particles from rodent droppings or nesting material — often while cleaning out sheds, cabins, or garages that have been sitting unused.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, HPS is rare but serious. Cases in Canada average only a handful per year, but the fatality rate can be as high as 35 to 40 per cent in confirmed cases. There is no specific treatment or vaccine — medical care is entirely supportive, focused on managing symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and the rapid respiratory failure that defines severe cases.
Symptoms typically begin one to five weeks after exposure, starting with flu-like fatigue and fever before progressing — sometimes rapidly — to severe breathing difficulty as fluid fills the lungs.
His Recovery
The B.C. man was hospitalized and placed in intensive care as his condition deteriorated. Medical staff worked to keep his lungs functioning while his immune system fought the infection. He survived, but recovery was long and difficult — the physical and psychological toll of near-death illness doesn't end when someone leaves the hospital.
Now, three years on, he's speaking out not out of trauma, but out of a sense of responsibility. "I feel very fortunate," he told CBC. His message is simple: people need to know this virus exists and how to protect themselves.
How to Stay Safe This Spring
Spring and early summer are peak risk seasons, when people are opening up cottages, cleaning out garages, and spending more time near areas where rodents may have spent the winter. Health authorities recommend the following precautions:
- Ventilate before cleaning — open windows and let spaces air out for at least 30 minutes before entering
- Don't sweep or vacuum dry droppings — this kicks up particles into the air
- Use gloves and a respirator when cleaning areas with signs of rodent activity
- Wet down droppings with a 1:10 bleach-and-water solution before wiping up
- Seal entry points around your home to prevent mice from nesting inside
The risk is highest in rural and forested areas where deer mice are common, but suburban homeowners are not immune — particularly those with older homes or detached garages.
A Rare Reminder
Hantavirus may be uncommon in Canada, but it's a vivid reminder that serious illness can come from the most unexpected places. One B.C. man's survival story is a powerful case for taking small precautions seriously — especially as Canadians head into the great outdoors this season.
Source: CBC Top Stories. Original reporting by CBC News.
