Hanta virus follow up question

[drweo]

Can anyone refer me to information about the hanta virus incident from last year in the High Peaks? I never saw any follow up stories etc and wold like to know what else happened: Was there any field research at the lean-to area where the virus was contracted? What do the public health people say about camping there? Things like that..

Thanks for any info/sources.

 

[DackerDan]

Here is a link where it was first brought up and discussed: http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19305

As far as I know there was no definitive source found for the infection. Could have been mice in a Leanto, could have been from some other contact.

 

[TCD]

I remember reading this whole issue earlier on that thread. My initial thought is that the "mouse bite" transmission route does not hold up. That transmission route has no history or documentation. My guess is that the leanto was swept with a broom, which aerosolized the dried mouse feces, which was then breathed in. That the most common, and well documented transmission route for Hanta virus.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

The Hanta virus is a somewhat common occurrence in the arid sections of the West, including the Eastern Sierra of California. It's mostly spread by rodents, particularly thru mice feces. As tempting as they may seem, I never enter old cabins/buildings left by miners. There are frequent warnings by the USFS, USPS and BLM not to disturb or raise dust in these buildings.

Here's an interesting series of links to a recent victim of the Hanta virus, especially the one from the UC Davis Health System -

http://www.sierrawave.net/26362/on-jordan-herbst/

 

[Gremlin]

What about winter in a lean-to? Is it still prevalent?

 

[drweo]

Thanks for those replies and information. Much appreciated. Still not certain, though, whether the lean-to's back there are safe or not. It's kind of ironic, though, that of all the dangers associated with climbing the high peaks, I'm most worried about mice!