Hantavirus death confirmed

A Deschutes County woman has died of hantavirus, Oregon’s public health veterinarian confirmed Monday.

It’s the second reported case of the rare, rodent-borne virus in Central Oregon this year. Last month, Oregon public health veterinarian Emilio DeBess confirmed that a teenage girl in Jefferson County had contracted the virus.

DeBess tracks cases of hantavirus and other illnesses that are common to both animals and humans. The girl has recovered, and the two cases appear to be unrelated, Jefferson County Public Health Director Tom Machala said.

“There was no way that these two had crossed paths,” Machala said.

Hantavirus starts out with flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches, shortness of breath and coughing. It causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which can be fatal if not treated, according to health officials. By the time symptoms occur, a patient must be hospitalized and receive intensive care immediately.

Hantavirus is primarily carried by rodents, and cannot be transmitted from one person to another. The Deschutes County case is the fourth reported in the county since 1993, and the 16th in Oregon during that time.

DeBess said Monday the Deschutes County woman was in the age range of 30 to 39, and it is assumed she might have come in contact with infected mouse droppings while cleaning. The Jefferson County girl infected last month was between the ages of 10 and 19, and might have contracted the virus while cleaning an old house where there were mouse droppings.

People should take precautions during spring cleaning to avoid breathing in airborne particles from mouse droppings, DeBess said.

“I think you tend to see it in the springtime when mice are having their young and they’re in an enclosed area, and they tend to be concentrated a little more,” DeBess said.

Health officials recommend not sweeping, vacuuming or dusting in areas where mouse droppings are present. People cleaning such an area should wear a face mask and disposable gloves, and use a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water to spray the droppings or nest.

The waste should be placed in double plastic bags, the area mopped with the bleach solution and the gloves thrown away. Washing hands or taking a shower with soap and hot water is recommended.

Deschutes County is not releasing details about the latest case. The onset of hantavirus was quick in this case, and the person died in the past couple of weeks, said Tom Kuhn, Deschutes County community health program manager. The county is still gathering information about the case.

“At this time, we don’t know where the source of the hantavirus came from,” Kuhn said.