ISU University Research Office
Animal Care and Use Policy (PDF)
Hantavirus is a highly fatal infection associated with wild rodents, especially deer mice. House mice (Mus musculus) and rats (Rattus sp). don't appear to be a problem. While the disease in humans is not common, there are many more human deaths in the Western US associated with Hantavirus infections than with rabies or plague. Hantavirus is easily the most signficant health risk associated with wild rodents.
If you're going to hold susceptible wild species on campus, such as Peromyscus sp., then you'll have to have them checked to make sure they're negative. If you're working closely with wild rodents in the field, you must provide a baseline blood sample at Student Health Services and be in the ISU Respiratory Protection Program. If you are supervising students or others who will be working with wild rodents of any species, you must make certain that they are given the information on the dangers of hantavirus before they are allowed to work with these animals. All training should be documented with the individuals name, the date of training, topics covered, and trainees signiture.
