HANTAVIRUS UPDATE 2011 - AMERICAS (05): USA (NEW MEXICO)

Korean hemorrhagic fever (Hantavirus) was one of three hemorrhagic fevers and one of more than a dozen agents that the United States researched as potential biological weapons before suspending its biological weapons program; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hantavirus

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A ProMED-mail post

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International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: Sun 23 Jan 2011
Source: Big Medicine [edited]



The New Mexico Department of Health announced today [23 Jan 2011] that
a 51-year-old woman from McKinley County is hospitalized in critical
condition at UNM [University of New Mexico] Hospital in Albuquerque
with the state's 2nd diagnosed case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
[HPS] this year [2011]. An environmental investigation will be
conducted to determine where the woman may have been exposed to the
virus.

"Cases of hantavirus [infection] in the winter are not as common as in
spring and summer and are usually due to rodents seeking shelter and
food in homes and other buildings due to the cold weather," said Dr
Paul Ettestad, the Department of Health's public health veterinarian.
"Being aware of your surroundings so that you avoid disturbing areas
of rodent infestation, rodent nests, and droppings is very important
along with making sure your house is sealed up so that rodents cannot
enter."

People can become infected and develop disease from hantaviruses when
they breathe in aerosolized virus particles that have been transmitted
by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. The deer
mouse is the main reservoir for the strain of hantavirus that occurs
in New Mexico, Sin Nombre virus. The Department of Health urges
health-care workers and the general public to familiarize themselves
with the symptoms of hantavirus [infection].

[Byline: Hal Newman]

--
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail


[There was a previous case of HPS in this same county in May 2010 (see
ProMED-mail archive number 20100509.1509) in addition to a new case 2
weeks ago (see ProMED-mail archive number 20110106.0077), making the
current case the 3rd within the past 9 months in McKinley County.

An image of _Peromyscus maniculatus_, the rodent host of Sin Nombre
virus, can be accessed at
.

A map showing the location of McKinley County in northwestern New
Mexico can be accessed at
.
A map showing the location of New Mexico in the southwestern USA can
be accessed at
.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the USA can be accessed at
. - Mod.TY]

[see also:
Hantavirus update 2011 - Americas: Chile, USA 20110106.0077
2010
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Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (27): Chile (OH) 20100701.2198
Hantavirus update 2010 - Americas (24): Chile, USA, susp 20100509.1509
2009
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Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (12): USA, pediatric 20091223.4323
Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (11): USA (CA) 20091214.4245
Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (10): USA (NM) 20090918.3281
Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (08): USA (NM, AZ) 20090708.2452
Hantavirus update 2009 - Americas (06): USA (NM) 20090511.1753]
........................................ty/mj/jw

SEE ALSO: Washington State; http://meatsubs.blogspot.com/2010/08/hantavirus-update-2010-americas-29-usa.html




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