Calaveras County Warns of Hantavirus Risk After 2026 Cruise Ship Outbreak

3 articles · Updated · mymotherlode.com · Jun 6

Calaveras County Public Health urged residents to take hantavirus precautions after a recent cruise ship outbreak, highlighting risks when reopening cabins, sheds and other buildings closed for long periods.
Deer mice can carry the virus in California, and officials said people can be infected by breathing contaminated air in enclosed spaces where rodent nests, droppings or dust have built up.
30 minutes of airing out a space is the first recommended step before cleanup, followed by mopping or sponging with a freshly made 10% bleach solution while wearing gloves and, in heavily infested areas, a respirator.
Six people were infected in a 2021 Yosemite National Park outbreak, and two died after staying in Curry Village's Boystown tent area, underscoring the virus's lethality.