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“McKinley County woman dies of Hantavirus - Ruidoso News” plus 1 more

“McKinley County woman dies of Hantavirus - Ruidoso News” plus 1 more

McKinley County woman dies of Hantavirus - Ruidoso News

Posted: 25 Jun 2019 09:41 AM PDT

Dianne L Stallings, Ruidoso News Published 10:41 a.m. MT June 25, 2019 | Updated 11:26 a.m. MT June 25, 2019

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Hantaviruses are carried by some rodents, and produce a rare but deadly disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Steve Byerly

A 42-year-old McKinley County woman died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), officials with the New Mexico Department of Health reported this week.

The fatality is the second case of HPS confirmed in New Mexico in 2019, and the first death.

The woman's name was not released, but the state Department of Health said it completed an environmental investigation at the woman's home to help reduce risk to others.

New Mexico reported a total of 114 HPS cases with 49 deaths between 1975 and 2018, according to statistics from the state health department.

Two cases were reported in Lincoln County during that time period, four in Otero County, one in Doña Ana County. No cases were reported in Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties.

State health officials reported a case of HPS last month in another McKinley County woman, who survived. In 2017, there were five cases of HPS in New Mexico and no cases in 2018.

What is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a severe, respiratory disease in humans that is fatal in about 40 percent of cases.

In New Mexico, the deer mouse is the main carrier for Sin Nombre virus, the hantavirus strain, that can be transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings or saliva that contain the microscopic virus, the release stated.

People can contract the disease when they breathe in virus that is suspended in the air, but it is not contagious from one person to another.

"We urge New Mexicans to be mindful when they are opening up sheds, cabins, and other buildings that have been closed up as mice and other rodents may have moved in," said Department of Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel.

"Stirring up dust in areas where rodents hang out – that includes everything from nests to droppings - can cause the virus to get into the air where the particles can be breathed in. It's best to air out cabins and sheds before entering them and wet down droppings with a disinfectant."

Hantavirus disease surveillance in the United States began in 1993 during an outbreak of severe respiratory illness in the Four Corners region, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPS became a nationally notifiable disease in 1995, and is now reported through the Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance System when fever is present in a patient with laboratory-confirmed evidence of Hantavirus infection.

In 2014, the Council of State & Territorial Epidemiologists expanded the national reporting of laboratory confirmed Hantavirus infections to include HPS and non-pulmonary Hantavirus infection. Reporting of non-pulmonary Hantavirus cases began in 2015.

State health officials encouraged healthcare providers and the public to become familiar with the signs of Hantavirus infection.

Symptoms

Early symptoms include fever and muscle aches, possibly with chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain and cough which rapidly progresses to respiratory distress.

The signs typically develop within one to six weeks after rodent exposure, state health officials said. Although there is no specific treatment for HPS, chances for recovery are better if medical attention is sought early.

Patients are encouraged to tell their provider if they have had an exposure to rodents, their nests or droppings within the two months prior to their illness.

Prevention

  • Air out closed-up buildings, storage rooms, trailers, cabins and overwintered vehicles before entering.
  • Trap mice until they are all gone.
  • Soak down rodent nests and droppings using a disinfectant before cleaning up.
  • Don't sweep rodent droppings into the air where they can be inhaled.
  • Put hay, wood, and compost piles as far as possible from your home.
  • Get rid of trash and junk piles to reduce attracting rodents.
  • Don't leave your pet's food and water where mice can get to it.

More: Two hantavirus cases reported in McKinley County

More: Death from Hantavirus reported in New Mexico

For more information, visit the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome section of the New Mexico Department of Health website at https://nmhealth.org/. 

Read or Share this story: https://www.ruidosonews.com/story/news/local/community/2019/06/25/second-case-deadly-hantavirus-new-mexico/1558376001/

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