Colorado reports adult death linked to hantavirus
FILE-An illustration shows a hantavirus testing concept with laboratory tubes containing cotton swabs and hantavirus labels. (Photo by Joao Luiz Bulcao / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)
An adult died after a confirmed case of hantavirus in Colorado not connected to a recent outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic.
In a statement from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on May 18, obtained by Reuters, the agency explained that the strain of hantavirus that resulted in the death in Colorado happens regularly in the state during this time of the year.
The cause of the hantavirus exposure is under investigation by Colorado health officials.
RELATED: What is hantavirus? Symptoms, how it spreads and why experts are watching it
USA Today reported that approximately 41 individuals in the United States are under evaluation for hantavirus related to the deadly outbreak that killed three passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The luxury liner was carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries when a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses was first reported to the World Health Organization on May 2.
Three people on the liner have died. Citing WHO, Reuters noted that including those deaths, there have been eight confirmed and two probable cases on board the ship.
What is hantavirus?
Dig deeper:
The hantavirus is a family of viruses which can cause severe illnesses and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, viruses cause diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).
Rodents also primarily spread these viruses, but they can be transmitted between people in rare cases and after prolonged close contact.
Symptoms of hantavirus
Big picture view:
Symptoms of hantavirus typically start to show 1 to 8 weeks after contact with an infected rodent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early symptoms of hantavirus can include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Chills
- Abdominal issues, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
The Source: Information for this story was provided by Reuters, USA Today, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.