90-Second Read: 'No treatment or vaccine': Health experts urge caution as Hantavirus concerns rise in Treasure Valley

CALDWELL, Idaho, Concerns about Hantavirus are growing in the Treasure Valley after reports connected a cruise ship outbreak to the virus. Venugopal said there are 21 different strains of Hantavirus, and Idaho has only seen 3 cases in the last five years. So if you see any of those symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider," Venugopal said, "The treatment is mostly supportive care.

Local experts say sealing up sheds, barns and garages to keep rodents out, and storing food, including pet feed and bird feed, in secure areas can help prevent exposure. In response, Southwest District Health fields a flood of questions from worried residents. The last reported cases in the state were linked to exposure to deer mice droppings.

With a growing rodent problem in the Treasure Valley, pest technician Tim Hall previously told Idaho News 6 that rodents need only about a quarter inch of space to squeeze through homes, garages and sheds, which are common exposure areas. You cannot see that a rat is sick with Hantavirus; they may look fine, but they can always transmit the virus to humans. Most of your rats are going to carry some sort of diseases, especially the two major ones.