Hantavirus in Yosemite: New batch of park visitors notified

Los Angeles Times: News of the ninth case of hantavirus originating in Yosemite National Park came as officials began another wave of public notification, emailing 230,000 people who reserved lodging at the park since early June.

The rodent-borne disease has killed three visitors since mid-June. The latest case sickened a California resident who stayed in a Curry Village "signature tent cabin" in early July, park spokesman Scott Gediman said. The person has since recovered, he added.

The latest case was a milder infection, with flulike symptoms that did not advance to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the respiratory ailment that can prove fatal, according to park and health officials.

Officials have called the Yosemite outbreak unprecedented — more than one hantavirus infection from the same location in the same year is very rare. The disease is typically transmitted to humans when they inhale dust or dirt containing the droppings or urine of infected mice.

Officials have already sent emails and letters to about 3,100 people who reserved one of the 91 signature tent cabins, where all but one of the cases were believed to have originated....

The cutest disease vector you'll see all day, a deer mouse, carrier of hantavirus, shot by James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control

Yosemite on virus alert before holiday

Janice Lloyd in USA Today: With one of the busiest weekends of the year approaching, Yosemite National Park officials are warning holiday travelers about the dangers of a rodent- borne virus following the deaths of two park visitors.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare but serious respiratory illness that has been blamed for the fatalities. A total of four people have been infected. The two other people are recovering.

All four people stayed in “signature tent cabins” in Curry Village in the eastern side of the popular California park. Visitors are being given a brochure about the virus and how to protect themselves. Germs are transmitted in droppings, urine and saliva of mice and rodents.

“Hantavirus is a very serious thing and we want to convey the importance of that and the precautions people can take,” said Scott Gediman, spokesman for Yosemite National Park. “But we don't want people to think they can't come to Yosemite. Even with the hantavirus we expect to be full. Labor Day is traditionally very busy.”...

Transmission electron micrograph of the Sin Nombre Hantavirus. Hantaviruses that cause Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) are carried in rodent droppings, especially the deer mouse. Incubation lasts for 1–5wks. Sickness begins with fever and muscle aches, followed by shortness of breath and coughing. From the Centers for Disease Control