HANTAVIRUS – AMERICAS (12): USA (CALIFORNIA) FATAL
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.orgDate: Thu 3 Apr 2025
Source: Mono County Administration [edited] https://monocounty.ca.gov/cao/page/third-hantavirus-related-death-confirmed-mono-countyMono County Public Health has confirmed a third death due to a
hantavirus in the town of Mammoth Lakes. Hantavirus [causes] a serious
and often fatal illness which people can get through contact with
infected deer mouse droppings, urine, or saliva. Deer mice are
widespread in the Eastern Sierra region.“A third case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), each of which
has been fatal, is tragic and alarming,” said Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County
Public Health Officer. “We don’t have a clear sense of where this
young adult may have contracted the virus. The home had no evidence of
mouse activity. We observed some mice in the workplace, which is not
unusual for indoor spaces this time of year in Mammoth Lakes. We
haven’t identified any other activities in the weeks before illness
that would have increased this person’s exposure to mice or their
droppings.“We’ve been aware of this suspected case for some weeks, but it has
taken time to obtain testing. The occurrence of 3 cases in a short
period has me worried, especially this early in the year.
Historically, we tend to see hantavirus cases later in the spring and
in the summer. We’ve now gone about a month without any additional
suspect cases, but remain concerned about the increase in activity.“We believe that deer mouse numbers are high this year [2025] in
Mammoth (and probably elsewhere in the Eastern Sierra). An increase in
indoor mice elevates the risk of hantavirus exposure. Therefore, it is
crucial to take precautions and follow the prevention steps outlined
below.“I want to emphasize that as far as we know, none of these deceased
individuals engaged in activities typically associated with exposure,
such as cleaning out poorly ventilated indoor areas or outbuildings
with a lot of mouse waste. Instead, these folks may have been exposed
during normal daily activities, either in the home or the workplace.
Many of us encounter deer mice in our daily lives and there is some
risk. We should pay attention to the presence of mice and be careful
around their waste.”Ongoing Investigation