Raccoon Feces/ Roundworm Clean Up
Raccoon roundworm is also called Baylisascris Procynois. Per the CDC, Baylisascaris can infect a variety of other animals, including humans. The worms develop to maturity in the raccoon intestine where they produce millions of eggs that are passed through the feces. Released eggs take 2-4 weeks to become infective to other animals and humans. The eggs are resistant to most environmental conditions and, with adequate moisture, can survive for years.
Symptoms of infection depend on how many eggs are ingested and where in the body the larvae migrate (travel to). Once inside the body, eggs hatch into larvae and cause illness when they travel through the liver, brain, spinal cord, or other organs. Ingesting a few eggs may cause few or no symptoms, but ingesting large numbers of eggs may lead to serious health complications. Symptoms of infection may take a week or so to develop.
Symptoms Include:
- Nausea
- Tiredness
- Liver enlargement
- Loss of coordination
- Lack of attention to people and surroundings
- Loss of muscle control
- Coma
- Blindness
- Other animals (except raccoons) infected with Baylisascaris can develop similar symptoms or die as a result of infection
There are very few cases of Baylisascaris infection reported each year, but it is believed to often be misdiagnosed. Five out of 25 reported cases end in death, so extreme caution must be taken when cleaning up after raccoon infestations. Restoration personnel may be called on this kind of job to treat the odor of the feces or clean up a raccoon-inhabited basement or attic.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn while cleaning up after a raccoon. This includes Tyvek suits, HEPA-filtered full-face respirators, nitrile gloves, and shoe covers.
Instructions:
- Set up a negative pressure containment. Using a 6-mil poly sheeting and Zipwall poles build a containment zone around the affected area.
- Measure the cubic feet of your containment and size the proper sized air scrubber. You should try to attain 4-6 air exchanges per hour. Use the following formula to determine the appropriate size air scrubber: Cubic Feet multiplied by 4, then divided by 60 = CFM needed to obtain proper negative pressure. Install the air scrubber either inside or outside the containment area.
- If the HEPA air scrubber is inside the containment area, use lay flat ducting to duct the exhaust air outside the containment area. If the air scrubber is outside the containment area, use reinforced flexible ducting to duct the air from the containment area into the intake on your air scrubber.
- Using a ULV fogger, fog the area initially with Unsmoke Microban X-590.
- Remove any gross contamination. All fecal matter should be burned, buried, or sent to a landfill.
- Using a sponge and Unsmoke Microban QGC diluted at 8 oz per gallon of water, completely clean the area.
Always follow label directions and never mix product unless specified.