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Three people from Lake Mammoth have recently died after contracting the hantavirus. This is the same infectious disease that killed Jean Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, earlier this year. The incident has raised concerns among public health officials about the spread of a rare but fatal disease that attacks the lungs.
At a press conference last month, Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical inspector at the New Mexico Medical Investigators’ Office, said the death rate for people infected in the US southwest is between 38% and 50%. It wasn’t the radar for many people until New Mexico’s chief medical inspector confirmed that 65-year-old Arakawa passed away from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in March.
The virus can spread to the urine, feces, or saliva of wild rodents, including deer mice, which are common in many parts of California, according to the California Department of Public Health.
All three individuals who died after contracting with the Lake Mammoth virus have experienced symptoms since February. Health officials say only one of the three had many mice in their homes, but there was evidence of the mice where all three worked.
Dr. Tom Boo, a public health officer in Mono County, home to Lake Mammoth, said that “it’s not uncommon in indoor spaces at this time of year on Lake Mammoth.”
“I believe there will be a high number of deer mice this year, and perhaps elsewhere in the East Sierra,” he said. “Increasing indoor mice increases the risk of hantavirus exposure.”
Mono County has reported 27 cases of the hantavirus in most of every county in California since 1993.
Has Hunter Villas been detected previously in Los Angeles County?
The hantavirus is rare in Los Angeles County, with most cases linked to out-of-county exposure. The last reported hantavirus-related death in Los Angeles County was in 2006.
Despite the fact that rodents are likely to be found in rural and semi-urban areas, the areas and structures that animals feature as homes can be a concern when it comes to infectious diseases, whether they are in the city or within the country. Buildings such as sheds, cabins, storage facilities, campsites and construction sites are particularly at risk of infection with rodents.
How can I protect myself from the hantavirus?
Hantavirus cases can occur all year round, but the peak seasons for reported cases in the US are spring and early summer. This coincides with the reproductive season of deer mice.
Avoid rodents, feces, and nesting materials to limit the risk of infection.
Plus, do what you can to keep wild rodents out of their homes, workplaces, cabins, sheds, cars, campers, or other closed spaces.
To do so, Los Angeles County Public Health officials suggest:
Seal holes (more than pencil width) and other openings that can allow rodents such as mice. Snap traps can be placed to catch rodents (CDC can use adhesive traps, live traps to scare rodents, or urinate.
If you find evidence of a mouse at home or at work, set up a snap trap to clean up any waste.
If that happens, local and state officials will provide the following guidance on how to cleanse yourself while protecting yourself from exposure.
Before cleaning:
Leave space for 30 minutes to clean. Get rubber or plastic gloves, an n-95 mask, a mixture of disinfectant or bleach and water.
While cleaning (woman wearing gloves):
Spray the contaminated area with disinfectant and soak for at least 5 minutes. Do not clean or vacuum the area. Fat and other infectious substances can be stirred into the air. Use a paper towel, a sponge, or a mop to clean. Put all the cleaning materials in your bag and throw them in the trash can.
What do you expect if you sign a contract with Hantavillos?
Symptoms are similar to other respiratory infections, such as fever, headache, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing. Some people also experience nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
Symptoms usually occur several weeks after breathing contaminated air by infected deer mice.
According to Mayo Clinic, complications of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can lead to damage to lung tissue and fluid accumulation. It can also affect cardiac function. Severe cases can prevent the heart from supplying oxygen to the body. Signs that keep an eye on include cough, difficulty breathing, hypotension and an irregular heart rate.
What can you do to treat Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?
According to the American Lung Assn, there is no specific treatment or treatment for the disease. However, early medical care can increase your chances of survival.
If the virus is detected early and the infected person receives medical treatment in the intensive care unit, the ALA said the person could improve.
ICU treatment may include intubation and oxygen therapy, fluid replacement surgery, and the use of medications to lower blood pressure.
If your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider.
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