1,700 warned after 2nd Yosemite hantavirus death

Tents are seen in Curry Village in Yosemite National Park, Calif. in October 2011 / (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

(AP) YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. -- One of the most popular U.S. national parks on Tuesday warned 1,700 recent visitors they may have been exposed to a rare, rodent-borne disease after a second person died after visiting Yosemite National Park this summer.

The email alerts warned of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which can be carried in the urine, saliva and feces of infected deer mice.

Man's death at Yosemite tied to rodent-borne disease, hantavirus

All of the at-risk visitors had stayed in the "Signature Tent Cabins" in the park's Curry Village.

Health officials learned this weekend of the second hantavirus death, which killed a person who visited the park in June, spokesman Scott Gediman said in a statement.

Another case of the illness has been confirmed, and a fourth is being investigated. The first death was reported earlier this month.

Yosemite officials said Monday that the four visitors might have been exposed while vacationing at Curry Village. They warned those who stayed in the village's tent cabins from mid-June through the end of August to beware of any symptoms of hantavirus, which can include fever, aches, dizziness and chills.

Of the 587 documented U.S. cases since the virus was identified in 1993, about one-third proved fatal. There is no specific treatment for the virus.

Federal health officials say symptoms may develop up to five weeks after exposure to urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents, and Yosemite advised visitors to watch for symptoms for up to six weeks.

Officials said thousands of people visit the park every month, so it would be impossible to track everyone who had set foot in Curry Village. It was not clear how many people stayed in the cabins in the period for which park officials issued the warning.

Gediman said contractors are working on the cabins to protect park-goers.

"They're doing everything they can to eliminate areas where mice can get into the cabins," Gediman told the San Francisco Chronicle. "This was never because the cabins were dirty, it was never because we didn't take care of them. This is just because approximately 20 percent of all deer mice are infected with hantavirus. And they're here in Yosemite Valley."

This year's deaths mark the first such deaths among park visitors, although two others were stricken in a more remote area in 2000 and 2010, officials said.

[VestalGirl21]

So, we stayed in these tent cabins in the 2nd week of July, with my two little boys. Nope... no one sent me an e-mail warning. I heard of this only today by my concerned mother, who saw it on CBS news.

[JennaGr123]

You're past the six week incubation period - you're safe, so maybe they figured they didn't need to warn you. (we on the other hand were there in early August - every time my kids blow their noses, I practically panic)

[ACIRAM9]

Overdone. Too many campsites and probably no one cleans properly. Cleanliness problems run rampant in most hotels in the US, and this is unfortunate, if it is not bed bugs, it is one thing or the other. This though is a campsite and the rats and mice and all the other creatures were there first, it is their territory, so humans if you insist on going there, this is the risk you take.

[Yongyong12]

OMG we stayed in the cabin in early August. I saw lots of warnings about bear, but none about rodent! The place was too crowded. It was like being in Manhattan! BTW didn't receive any email or letter from Curry Village like the article suggested

[enlightenu]

In other words, if you sleep in one of these cabins, expect to be covered in urine, saliva and feces of deer mice.

[IAMCS]

Two reasons why the cases are isolated to the tent area: 1. tents are easier for mice to enter. 2. Canvas material of tents can absorb saliva, urine from the mice.

[KansasCity-2012]

The rodents were there first. They are sharing their habitat with us.

We are arrogant to believe we can just be welcomed to inhabit any place we decide without any regard for the sick who are already there.

[intonews]

Instead of lawsuits how about people taking responsiblity for where they camp. They have bleached each site numerous times. This is a disease that is so easily transmitted it's like the flu but much more serious. They have had warnings about this from Washington State to Mexico. People this is camping. It comes with risks and an abundance of wonder. Be safe, use your head, be prepared.

[karek40]

Sounds like a job for d-Con.

[nohater]

wonder why they don't shut it down until it can be disinfected or whatever. silly to keep letting people use the camping area and run the risk of death. hopefully relatives of the deceased are filing lawsuits against the parks department, the state of california and et al.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

The disease comes from rodent droppings, so you can clean all you want, but if you didn't get rid of the pests, then the virus can just return easily.....so it would involve a complete irradication of all rodents in the vicinity.

[Colt4542]

"lawsuit" seems to be the answer to everything. You must be related to a lawyer.