Health officials announced yesterday that three residents of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County, California, have died from hantavirus, a rare rodent-borne illness. The virus, which spreads through contact with infected deer mice, previously claimed the life of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, in New Mexico.
Hantavirus infections are uncommon in California, with fewer than 100 cases reported since 1980, according to the state Department of Public Health. The virus can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe lung infection that can be fatal. Symptoms often resemble the flu, with fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, and can progress to coughing and shortness of breath as the lungs fill with fluid.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began tracking hantavirus after an outbreak in the Four Corners region in 1993. Most cases in the U.S. have occurred in western states, particularly in the southwest.
The CDC has offered to test samples from Arakawa’s case to better understand the strain of the virus involved. Public health experts advise minimizing contact with rodents and their droppings to prevent infection. Protective gloves and a bleach solution should be used for cleaning, and sweeping or vacuuming should be avoided to prevent the virus from becoming airborne.
Recent Comments