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Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/.../wyoming/ea3689fba8b938c28725746c00017405.txt
Virus claims another victim
By JOAN BARRON
Star-Tribune capital bureau
CHEYENNE -- A second Carbon County resident has died from hantavirus, Wyoming Department of Health officials said Tuesday.
According to preliminary test results, a woman from Saratoga was the second death in Carbon County within a week.
A man from the Rawlins area was the first victim, according to Kim Deti, department spokeswoman.
"There is no indication at all that they're linked,? Deti said late Wednesday afternoon.
The follow-up investigation of the male victim showed the type of exposure that can lead to the disease, officials said. A similar investigation into the woman's death hasn't been completed.
There have been eight cases of hantavirus in Wyoming since 2000, with half resulting in death, said Dr. Stacey Anderson, an epidemiologist and veterinarian with the department's preventive health and safety division.
Hantavirus is normally transmitted from rodents such as deer mice to humans through inhalation of small particles of rodent urine or droppings. Much of the time this exposure takes place as people clean rodent droppings or urine.
People also can become infected when the virus is directly introduced into broken skin or mucous membranes.
The occupations of the two latest victims weren't available. The disease is not limited to a single profession, Deti said.
"What it boils down to is exposure to mice and what mice leave behind,? she said. ?It could happen to anybody.?
When the weather warms up, the department warns people to be careful when opening up places that have been closed during the winter.
In Wyoming, the deer mouse is the primary carrier of hantavirus. Infected rodents shed the virus through urine, droppings and saliva. Rodent infestation in and around the home and in outbuildings such as barns remains the primary risk for exposure.
"Everyone needs to be aware of the risk of hantavirus and take precautions, because even healthy people are at risk for HPS (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome),? Anderson said in a news release.
The last case of hantavirus in Wyoming was in 2006 in Converse County. It was not fatal.
The last fatal case was in 2003 in Big Horn County. The victim was Kevin Robertson, 42, of Lovell.
Two years ago researchers suggested a wet winter and spring was linked to high rodent populations, which could be related to an increase in hantavirus cases in Western states.
Contact Joan Barron at joan.barron@trib.com or by phone at 307-632-1244.
Virus claims another victim
By JOAN BARRON
Star-Tribune capital bureau
CHEYENNE -- A second Carbon County resident has died from hantavirus, Wyoming Department of Health officials said Tuesday.
According to preliminary test results, a woman from Saratoga was the second death in Carbon County within a week.
A man from the Rawlins area was the first victim, according to Kim Deti, department spokeswoman.
"There is no indication at all that they're linked,? Deti said late Wednesday afternoon.
The follow-up investigation of the male victim showed the type of exposure that can lead to the disease, officials said. A similar investigation into the woman's death hasn't been completed.
There have been eight cases of hantavirus in Wyoming since 2000, with half resulting in death, said Dr. Stacey Anderson, an epidemiologist and veterinarian with the department's preventive health and safety division.
Hantavirus is normally transmitted from rodents such as deer mice to humans through inhalation of small particles of rodent urine or droppings. Much of the time this exposure takes place as people clean rodent droppings or urine.
People also can become infected when the virus is directly introduced into broken skin or mucous membranes.
The occupations of the two latest victims weren't available. The disease is not limited to a single profession, Deti said.
"What it boils down to is exposure to mice and what mice leave behind,? she said. ?It could happen to anybody.?
When the weather warms up, the department warns people to be careful when opening up places that have been closed during the winter.
In Wyoming, the deer mouse is the primary carrier of hantavirus. Infected rodents shed the virus through urine, droppings and saliva. Rodent infestation in and around the home and in outbuildings such as barns remains the primary risk for exposure.
"Everyone needs to be aware of the risk of hantavirus and take precautions, because even healthy people are at risk for HPS (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome),? Anderson said in a news release.
The last case of hantavirus in Wyoming was in 2006 in Converse County. It was not fatal.
The last fatal case was in 2003 in Big Horn County. The victim was Kevin Robertson, 42, of Lovell.
Two years ago researchers suggested a wet winter and spring was linked to high rodent populations, which could be related to an increase in hantavirus cases in Western states.
Contact Joan Barron at joan.barron@trib.com or by phone at 307-632-1244.