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Yosemite Park-linked hantavirus kills third victim | Yosemite Park-linked hantavirus kills third victim |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Yosemite park rangers have expanded a health advisory about a killer virus to nearly a quarter of a million people who have stayed there since June. | Yosemite park rangers have expanded a health advisory about a killer virus to nearly a quarter of a million people who have stayed there since June. |
The mouse-borne hantavirus is now known to have infected nine people - three of whom have died. There is no known cure. | The mouse-borne hantavirus is now known to have infected nine people - three of whom have died. There is no known cure. |
Officials at the California park insist their letters to more than 230,000 people are purely precautionary. | Officials at the California park insist their letters to more than 230,000 people are purely precautionary. |
Deer mice, which spread the infection, have increased in number and now the rodents are being trapped and killed. | Deer mice, which spread the infection, have increased in number and now the rodents are being trapped and killed. |
Yosemite initially sent a warning last month to 1,700 campers who stayed at a specific campsite, before gradually expanding that figure as infections emerged elsewhere. | Yosemite initially sent a warning last month to 1,700 campers who stayed at a specific campsite, before gradually expanding that figure as infections emerged elsewhere. |
Most of the cases involved guests at the Signature cabins in Curry Village, but one case involved someone who had stayed at multiple High Sierra camps in wilderness areas. | Most of the cases involved guests at the Signature cabins in Curry Village, but one case involved someone who had stayed at multiple High Sierra camps in wilderness areas. |
A ninth person is now recovering after being stricken with the disease following a visit to Yosemite in early July, said National Park Service spokesman John Quinley on Thursday. | A ninth person is now recovering after being stricken with the disease following a visit to Yosemite in early July, said National Park Service spokesman John Quinley on Thursday. |
It can take six weeks for the emergence of early symptoms such as aches and fever, or in half the cases headaches and sickness. It then moves into the lungs. | It can take six weeks for the emergence of early symptoms such as aches and fever, or in half the cases headaches and sickness. It then moves into the lungs. |
One third of cases are fatal, but identifying it early through blood tests increases a person's chance of survival. | One third of cases are fatal, but identifying it early through blood tests increases a person's chance of survival. |
The hantavirus is carried in rodent faeces, urine and saliva. When it dries out and mixes with dust, it can be inhaled by humans, especially in small spaces. | The hantavirus is carried in rodent faeces, urine and saliva. When it dries out and mixes with dust, it can be inhaled by humans, especially in small spaces. |
The first death was reported in August. One of those who died was a 37-year-old man from the San Francisco Bay area. | The first death was reported in August. One of those who died was a 37-year-old man from the San Francisco Bay area. |
The park saw two other cases of the hantavirus in a more remote area during 2000 and 2010, but this year's were the first known deaths. | The park saw two other cases of the hantavirus in a more remote area during 2000 and 2010, but this year's were the first known deaths. |
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