-- Grab EHS RSS FeedHantavirus Claims Two Lives
Two Utahns died last month from hantavirus, the first confirmed cases of the year and first fatalities from the virus since 2009, say health officials, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
"We usually have about one case a year. Sometimes they survive and sometimes they don’t," said JoDee Baker, an epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health. "But to have two fatalities so early in the season was why we wanted to get the word out."
Officials will not release the names of the deceased. Both were adults between the ages of 20 and 65. One lived in Millard County and the other in Salt Lake County, but it’s unclear where they were infected.
"We know they had rodent exposure," because that’s how the virus is spread, she said."We just don’t know where. We’re still investigating."
Summer is peak season for hantavirus, which is carried predominantly by deer mice in North America.
George Williams,
General Manager - Staff Entomologist
