Health officials are monitoring the situation after confirmed cases of hantavirus and a separate rabies exposure at Grand Canyon National Park. One park employee was exposed to hantavirus, and another person had confirmed contact with rabies, based on information shared in an interview with The Hill. Hantavirus is mainly spread by deer mice and has a fatality rate of about 38%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier this year, a case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome led to the death of Betsy Arakawa in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
8 News Now reported that, aside from the Grand Canyon cases, four cases of hantavirus have been confirmed in Northern Nevada. In response, state health officials released guidelines to help prevent exposure, including taking care when cleaning areas that may have deer mice. In Mammoth Lakes, California, three deaths linked to hantavirus were also reported. Dr. Tom Boo said that deer mice numbers are higher than usual this year, increasing the risk of infection.
Eve Wolters, deputy director for Coconino County Health and Human Services, said rabies cases are not unusual and that bats are a primary carrier. In a statement to The Hill, she noted, “People want to sleep out under the stars.” She added that using a tent is safer, especially in areas like the Grand Canyon, because people may not notice animals nearby while they sleep. A recent case at the park involved a bat near Kanab Creek Canyon that tested positive for rabies. The person exposed received Post-Exposure Prophylaxis treatment and recovered.
Health authorities are urging the public to take preventive steps after recent hantavirus cases. They advise opening windows and doors before cleaning enclosed areas, using disinfectants instead of sweeping, and wearing protective gear. These measures can help reduce the risk of exposure to the virus, which can spread through contact with infected rodents.
