Someone in Chelan County tested positive for hantavirus

Key Points:

• A person in Chelan County, Washington, has tested positive for Sin Nombre virus (SNV) Hantavirus, which is unrelated to the Andes Virus cases found on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
• The infection likely occurred near the individual's home, where mice were present, and health officials advise caution during activities like spring cleaning or entering enclosed spaces where rodents might be found.
• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is contracted through exposure to infected rodents or their droppings, with virus particles becoming airborne and inhaled, especially in enclosed or rarely used areas.
• Symptoms of HPS appear one to eight weeks after exposure, initially resembling the flu with fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, progressing to respiratory issues such as coughing and difficulty breathing.
• Hantavirus infections are rare but can be severe, with Washington state typically seeing one to five Sin Nombre virus cases annually across various counties.