All articles tagged with #deer mice
Calaveras County Public Health warns about hantavirus dangers in buildings closed for extended periods and provides cleaning safety steps, including airing out the space for 30 minutes, cleaning with a freshly made 10% bleach solution, wearing gloves, and using a respirator for heavy infestation, with references to past Yosemite and cruise-ship outbreaks.
A Washington State University-led study in the Palouse region (Washington and Idaho) found Sin Nombre hantavirus in about 30% of tested rodents, with roughly 10% actively infected, suggesting the virus is more widespread in Northwest wildlife than previously known. The team also produced the first full genome sequences of Northwest Sin Nombre strains to aid surveillance, while human infections remain rare; health officials urge precautions when cleaning areas with rodent contamination and researchers hope to expand exposure assessments.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed a fatal hantavirus case in an adult in Douglas County. Officials say Sin Nombre hantavirus occurs regularly in Colorado and is often spread by deer mice, with higher activity in spring and summer. The case is not linked to a cruise ship outbreak, and the public risk remains low. Authorities are investigating the exposure source and urge residents to avoid contact with rodent urine, feces, saliva, and nesting materials.
The New Mexico Department of Health has reported the first case of hantavirus in the state for 2024, with a man in San Juan County being hospitalized and subsequently released for recovery. The department highlighted deer mice as the primary carriers of the virus, commonly found in mice droppings and urine, with symptoms typically appearing within one to six weeks after exposure.
Six residents in New Mexico have been diagnosed with hantavirus, with two fatalities reported. Deer mice are the main carriers of the virus, which can be contracted through the respiratory system or by touching mice droppings or urine. The virus cannot be transmitted between people. Symptoms can resemble the flu or a stomach bug and can develop within a week of exposure. The New Mexico Department of Health recommends several prevention measures, including trapping mice, sealing up homes, and avoiding contact with rodent droppings.