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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

I'm a 40 year old male and have had bad ocd for about 20 years now. I'm currently living in Pennsylvania and me and my wife recently discovered a mouse in our home. We set traps and wound up catching 5 ! 2 days after catching the last one we cleaned out the laundry room where they were hiding. I vacuumed up a lot of debris from there and under couch. We also swept it up and wiped up the areas that had droppings. I am now terrified to learn that we shouldn't have done that. I have been driving self insane with worry. Can someone tell me what percent of mice in pa carry hantavirus? Also I read that it dies pretty quick so I hope after 2 days it was safe. I'm extremely nervous . Any help would be greatly appreciated !
Thu, 23 Apr 2015
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. You are 40 years old and have OCD since last 20 years. Now after catching mice and then cleaning house completely you have started having anxiety about getting Hantavirus infection. First of all I would like to reassure you that such infections don't usually spread by just cleaning the house. Usually such infections spread more commonly in closed, damp areas like old ships, godowns etc. Not all mice are infected and prolonged contact is needed to get infection. So as per my opinion there is no need to worry. The fear of infection is probably due to severe anxiety you are having and this has got aggravated because of your history of OCD.

Continue to take your OCD drugs as per prescription and if that health anxiety persist visit your psychiatrist. Two days has already passed you are safe now.

Thanks, Take care
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Suggest Treatment For Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries I can understand your concern. You are 40 years old and have OCD since last 20 years. Now after catching mice and then cleaning house completely you have started having anxiety about getting Hantavirus infection. First of all I would like to reassure you that such infections don t usually spread by just cleaning the house. Usually such infections spread more commonly in closed, damp areas like old ships, godowns etc. Not all mice are infected and prolonged contact is needed to get infection. So as per my opinion there is no need to worry. The fear of infection is probably due to severe anxiety you are having and this has got aggravated because of your history of OCD. Continue to take your OCD drugs as per prescription and if that health anxiety persist visit your psychiatrist. Two days has already passed you are safe now. Thanks, Take care