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hatrack

(59,387 posts)
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 09:02 PM Aug 2012

Second Fatal Hantavirus Case Likely Contracted At Yosemite

A second person who visited Yosemite National Park has died after contracting a rare rodent-borne disease, officials said Monday as they warned people who have visited the park since June to seek immediate medical attention if they have symptoms associated with the hantavirus. The person was identified as a California resident who contracted the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome after visiting the park in June, the National Park Service said in a statement.

The two people who died, along with a third person confirmed with the illness and a fourth who may have contracted the disease, all stayed at the park's popular Curry Village in June, the agency said.

"An outreach effort is currently underway by the park concessioner to contact visitors who stayed in 'Signature Tent Cabins' at Curry Village from mid-June through the end of August," the Park Service said. "These individuals are being informed of the recent cases and are being advised to seek immediate medical attention if they exhibit any symptoms of hantavirus."

The symptoms, which appear one to six weeks after exposure, include fever, headache and muscle ache. They can progress quickly to severe difficulty in breathing and possible death, according to officials. The disease is caused by a virus that people contract after coming into contact with the urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents, primarily deer mice.

EDIT

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/yosemite-rodent-borne-disease-death.html

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Second Fatal Hantavirus Case Likely Contracted At Yosemite (Original Post) hatrack Aug 2012 OP
Thank you for this article!!!! My son was in Yoesemite in July. Windy Aug 2012 #1
Hope that isn't the cause - hanta is some nasty stuff! hatrack Aug 2012 #2
Similar to Ebola. Bleeding from the eyeballs nasty. longship Aug 2012 #3

Windy

(5,944 posts)
1. Thank you for this article!!!! My son was in Yoesemite in July.
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 09:13 PM
Aug 2012

He got very sick over last weekend and went to the doctor who diagnosed him with a viral ear infection, but he had a very high fever so I sent the article to him so that he can let his doctor know.

longship

(40,416 posts)
3. Similar to Ebola. Bleeding from the eyeballs nasty.
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 09:27 PM
Aug 2012

Rough stuff. Like Ebola, I don't think it's transmitted by air... Yet.

These outbreaks are always worrisome.

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