Hantavirus death reported in Washington state
Officials with the Whitman County Public Health (WCPH), in eastern Washington state, are reporting a death from hantavirus in a resident.
The individual had a known local exposure to rodents before their illness. This is the first confirmed case of Hantavirus in Whitman County and the first reported case in Washington State this year.
Hantavirus can cause a rare but serious lung disease called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).
Hantavirus is found in the urine, droppings, and saliva of infected rodents. In Washington State, deer mice are the carriers of the virus and usually do not show any signs of being ill while infected.
People can get Hantavirus by breathing in dust that has the virus from fresh urine, droppings, or nests of infected rodents. The risk is highest in closed-up places like sheds, cabins, or cars where rodents live and there isn’t much fresh air.
People can also get sick by touching surfaces with the virus and then touching their nose or mouth. However, it does not spread from person to person.
HPS is a severe and potentially deadly disease that affects the lungs. Symptoms of HPS usually start to show 1 to 8 weeks after contact with an infected rodent.
Hantavirus: An interview with Dr Paul Ettestad
Early symptoms can include: Fatigue, fever, muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups like the thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders.
About half of all HPS patients also experience: headaches, dizziness, chills, abdominal problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Four to 10 days after the initial phase of illness, the late symptoms of HPS appear. These symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath. Patients might experience tightness in the chest, as the lungs fill with fluid.
HPS can be deadly. Thirty-eight percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease.
There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection. Patients should receive supportive care, including rest, hydration, and treatment of symptoms.
Had cases in VT years ago but it is in the deermouse population and that study done on biologists who study the mice showed they had a high seropositive rate for Hantavirus.