Arapahoe County man positive for hantavirus; case not tied to ship outbreak
Denver7 • • health
Key Points:
- An Arapahoe County man is recovering at home after testing positive for the Sin Nombre variant of hantavirus, which is endemic to Colorado and likely contracted through local rodent exposure.
- The case is unrelated to a recent hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius, as the patient had no recent travel or contact with anyone aboard the ship.
- Sin Nombre hantavirus infections in Colorado typically occur in spring and summer and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory disease, though person-to-person transmission is rare.
- Health officials recommend precautions when cleaning rodent-infested areas, such as using protective gear, ventilating spaces, disinfecting surfaces, and safely disposing of contaminated materials to prevent infection.
- Since 1993, Colorado has reported about 121 hantavirus cases, and the overall risk of infection remains low according to state and federal health authorities.