The Saskatchewan government is reminding residents to take precautions against hantavirus during spring clean up.

Hantavirus is spread by mouse droppings and in rare cases can be deadly.

Agriculture minister David Marit suggests safety precautions like wearing a mask when cleaning sheds, barns, bins, cabins or vehicles this spring.

Other recommendations include using a damp mop, wear goggles, and rubber gloves.

Between 1994 and last year, there were 36 cases of the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in Saskatchewan and 12 were fatal.
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