A man under 50 years old was hospitalized in Carson City, Nevada, due to a hantavirus infection. The patient contracted the virus while inhaling or coming into contact with rodent droppings, urine, or nesting material disturbed during household renovations.
This is the first reported case of hantavirus in Douglas County in four years. The investigation is ongoing. Hantavirus has been reported in five cases in the eastern Sierra, including three fatalities in Mammoth Lakes.
According to Mono County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Boo, the occurrence of multiple cases in a short period has raised concerns. “Historically, we tend to see hantavirus cases later in the spring and summer,” he said. “We believe that deer mouse numbers are high this year, which increases the risk of exposure.”
Dr. Boo explained that people can be infected with hantavirus through contact with infected deer mice, typically by inhaling contaminated particles or getting waste in their mouth from contaminated hands. The incubation period is usually two to seven weeks, after which symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches develop.
In severe cases, the virus can progress to involve the lungs, leading to a cough and shortness of breath. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is often fatal, with a mortality rate of 38% according to the CDC.
The virus does not spread between people or other rodents, and it is the only source of hantavirus in the area. Dr. Boo emphasized the importance of being aware of the presence of mice and taking precautions around their waste to reduce the risk of exposure.
Source: https://www.recordcourier.com/news/2025/may/22/health-officials-report-hantavirus-case-in-douglas