Harmless little deer mouse...or not? (Remerging viruses)

Do you think that this deer mouse is cute? Do not let it’s cute look mislead you…
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease from rodents. Humans can contract the disease when they come into contact with infected rodents or their urine and droppings.

HPS was first recognized in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the United States. Although rare, HPS is potentially deadly. Rodent control in and around the home remains the primary strategy for preventing Hantavirus infection. These incidents are used to remember that these re-merging viruses could appear once again…

The deadliest United States outbreak was on May 14, 1993 in the Four Corners area. Incubation is similar to Yellow Fever. Symptoms include mild onset with flu-like symptoms that rapidly progresses into kidney failure with intestinal bleeding (which is the hallmark of the disease).

The most common symptom in the United States is hypertension with chronic kidney failure. In the Four Corners outbreak, the disease had a very mild onset with flu-like symptoms, developing into lung hemorrhaging causing the infected person to suffocate in his or her own blood.

The mortality rate varies with the strain; the most deadly strain had a 62.5% mortality rate.
Transmission is from animal to human. Over 63 bird and rodent vectors have been identified for the 70 known strains of the virus. Scientists have concluded that the outbreak in the Four Corners area was due to a ten-fold increase in the population of the deer mouse and not to a virus mutation.
By Amas goh