Hantavirus in MT- again

“Source: Great Falls Tribune, Thu 1 Apr 2004 [edited]



Montana: 6th Death in the State Caused by Hantavirus Infection
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Hantavirus has claimed another victim in northern Montana, this time Glacier National Park's Deputy Superintendent, who died during the last week of Mar 2004. The Deputy Superintendent, 61, became ill with flu-like symptoms in mid-March and died on 25 Mar 2004. Blood tests confirming hantavirus came back after the patient had died, said Elaine Sedlack, a nurse with the Flathead City-County Health Department.

This is the 23rd case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome reported in Montana since 1993 and the 6th death the state Department of Public Health and Human Services has reported. Most of the deaths have been in north-central Montana, including 2 in the Great Falls area, and one each in Cut Bank and in Malta.

Hantavirus infection is contracted by inhaling airborne particles
from dried droppings, urine and saliva of infected deer mice. Sedlack said officials are still investigating how the deputy superintendent, who lived in Columbia Falls, contracted the disease. "There was no
definite source that we know of right now," she said. Sedlack said
that this is the 1st human case of hantavirus infection in Flathead
County.

Montanans need to make sure mice are not living inside their
apartments or houses, said Rick Douglass, a hantavirus researcher and Montana Tech biology professor in Butte. "You absolutely have to
mouse-proof your house," he said. That includes filling any holes on
the outside of your home's foundation that you can place your finger into. If you encounter any mouse droppings or urine, clean it up using one part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water; wear latex gloves and a paper mask. Don't vacuum or sweep up the droppings; they become dangerous when airborne."

"Hantavirus infection is not contagious, and cats and dogs have not been known to contract it," the Flathead agency said. Symptoms
include high fever, body aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea. For more on hantavirus, visit the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention Web site at
.”

“see what happens when spotted owl populations decline and backpackers start randomly killing pit vipers found on the trail.

not havoc, but hantavirus breaks loose.

Leantos become lethal traps, forget bearbagging, those AOL CDs on the bear bag rope become life itself to keep those evil vicious biological warfare practicing mice from the food cache.

Why is the UN still sitting on its hands, these mice should be condemned for using WMD and immediate sanctions imposed.”

“maybe we should carpet bomb Montana to wipe out the vicious terrrorist rodent population before this silent killing warfare spreads to other parts of the country.”

“Snakes, owls, hawks, etc...
Leave'em be.”