Panic as Arizona hantavirus case known as Sin Nombre kills 1

Officials in Arizona are warning about the presence of a hantavirus known as “Sin Nombre” following the death of a person infected in the city of Kingman.A report from the Mohave County Department of Public Health confirmed that a resident had died from the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) illness.Officials said the individual’s exposure to the virus “could not be determined” and they could not rule out local transmission.“Although hantavirus is uncommon, awareness and prevention are important, especially for people spending time outdoors or cleaning areas where rodents may be present,” Health Director Melissa Palmer said in the press release.Health officials cautioned that the “Sin Nombre” type is not the same as the hantavirus “Andes,” which made headlines after a deadly outbreak on a cruise ship.“This hantavirus case is related to the Sin Nombre virus strain and is not related to the Andes virus outbreak associated with the MV Hondius cruise ship,” the report said.“Sin Nombre virus is not known to spread from person to person.Most infections occur when individuals breathe in dust contaminated with the urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials of infected rodents.”“Sin Nombre” is considered rare and it is typically carried by deer mice.

Officials said they are still letting the public know so people keep an eye out for troubling signs in case of exposure.Some of those signs, which can develop in seven to eight days after exposure, include:If problems persist, individuals can experience more severe conditions like coughing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.“These viruses can cause severe illness or death in humans,” according to the U.S.Center for Disease Control and Prevention.“Anyone experiencing these symptoms after potential rodent exposure should seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider about the exposure.”Kingman, located in northwest Arizona, is about 100 miles from bright lig...