News for hantavirus
Hantavirus at Yosemite: 10000 people who stayed in tent cabins may be at risk for the deadly rodent-borne illness
New York Daily News - 1 hour agoSome 10000 people who stayed in tent cabins at Yosemite National Park this summer may be at risk for the deadly rodent-borne hantavirus, ...
Health
Official examines one of the tent cabins in Yosemite National Park. Two
men who stayed at the park have died and at least four more were
sickened after being exposed to rodent-borne hantavirus. It is suspected
they contracted it while staying in one of 91 'Signature' tent-style
cabins in Yosemite's popular Curry Village camping area.
Hantavirus at Yosemite: 10,000 people who stayed in tent cabins may be at risk for the deadly rodent-borne illness
Two men have died from hantavirus linked to the Yosemite outbreak and four others were sickened but survive
Comments (1)REUTERS
Published: Friday, August 31, 2012, 7:27 PM
Updated: Friday, August 31, 2012, 8:34 PM
DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc./AP
Official examines one of the tent cabins in Yosemite National Park. Two
men who stayed at the park have died and at least four more were
sickened after being exposed to rodent-borne hantavirus. It is suspected
they contracted it while staying in one of 91 'Signature' tent-style
cabins in Yosemite's popular Curry Village camping area.
Some 10,000 people who stayed in tent cabins at Yosemite National Park
this summer may be at risk for the deadly rodent-borne hantavirus, the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.
The CDC urged lab testing of patients who exhibit symptoms consistent with the lung disease, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, after a stay at the California park between June and August and recommended that doctors notify state health departments when it is found.
Two men have died from hantavirus linked to the Yosemite outbreak and four others were sickened but survived, while the CDC said additional suspected cases were being investigated from "multiple health jurisdictions."
Most of the victims were believed to have been infected while staying in one of 91 "Signature" tent-style cabins in Yosemite's popular Curry Village camping area.
"An estimated 10,000 persons stayed in the 'Signature Tent Cabins' from June 10 through August 24, 2012," the CDC said. "People who stayed in the tents between June 10 and August 24 may be at risk of developing HPS in the next six weeks."
Yosemite officials earlier this week shut down all 91 of the insulated
tent cabins after finding deer mice, which carry the disease and can
burrow through holes the size of pencil erasers, nesting between the
double walls.
Park authorities said on Friday that they had contacted approximately 3,000 parties of visitors who stayed in the tent cabins since mid-June, advising them to seek immediate medical attention if they have symptoms of hantavirus.
Nearly 4 million people visit Yosemite, one of the nation's most popular national parks, each year, attracted to the its dramatic scenery and hiking trails. Roughly 70 percent of those visitors congregate in Yosemite Valley, where Curry Village is located.
YOSEMITE LOGS 1,500 CALLS
The virus starts out causing flu-like symptoms, including headache, fever, muscle ache, shortness of breath and cough, and can lead to severe breathing difficulties and death.
The incubation period for the virus is typically two to four weeks after exposure, the CDC said, with a range between a few days and six weeks. Just over a third of cases are fatal.
The CDC urged lab testing of patients who exhibit symptoms consistent with the lung disease, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, after a stay at the California park between June and August and recommended that doctors notify state health departments when it is found.
Two men have died from hantavirus linked to the Yosemite outbreak and four others were sickened but survived, while the CDC said additional suspected cases were being investigated from "multiple health jurisdictions."
Most of the victims were believed to have been infected while staying in one of 91 "Signature" tent-style cabins in Yosemite's popular Curry Village camping area.
"An estimated 10,000 persons stayed in the 'Signature Tent Cabins' from June 10 through August 24, 2012," the CDC said. "People who stayed in the tents between June 10 and August 24 may be at risk of developing HPS in the next six weeks."
Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Housekeeper Albert Gomez sprays the floors of a tent cabin with a bleach mixture to prevent the possible spread of viruses in Curry Village at Yosemite National Park on Tuesday, August 28.
Park authorities said on Friday that they had contacted approximately 3,000 parties of visitors who stayed in the tent cabins since mid-June, advising them to seek immediate medical attention if they have symptoms of hantavirus.
Nearly 4 million people visit Yosemite, one of the nation's most popular national parks, each year, attracted to the its dramatic scenery and hiking trails. Roughly 70 percent of those visitors congregate in Yosemite Valley, where Curry Village is located.
DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc./AP
General view of tent cabins at Yosemite National Park.
The virus starts out causing flu-like symptoms, including headache, fever, muscle ache, shortness of breath and cough, and can lead to severe breathing difficulties and death.
The incubation period for the virus is typically two to four weeks after exposure, the CDC said, with a range between a few days and six weeks. Just over a third of cases are fatal.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/yosemite-hotline-jammed-6-fall-ill-2-die-exposed-hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome-article-1.1149246#ixzz25AwzH0wc
Since I also live in California since Hantavirus has obviously made it to California from New Mexico and Arizona I think it behooves all of us to take rodents more seriously in our home areas including mice and country wood rats. If people are dying from the stationary(for the summer) tent cabins it might be necessary for all areas in or near California to think about being more proactive regarding rodents.
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