Douglas County adult dies from hantavirus; case not linked to cruise ship
Denver7 • • health
Key Points:
- A Douglas County adult resident has died from hantavirus, with early findings indicating local exposure through contact with rodents, the most common source of the virus in Colorado.
- The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) confirmed the case is not linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, which involves a different hantavirus strain.
- Sin Nombre hantavirus infections occur regularly in Colorado, mainly in spring and summer, and can cause severe respiratory disease; the virus spreads primarily through inhaling contaminated rodent droppings.
- CDPHE emphasized that avoiding contact with rodents and their excretions is the best prevention method, and stated the risk to the general public remains low while the investigation continues.
- Since 1993, Colorado has reported about 121 hantavirus cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.