Hantavirus reported in Grant County

Virus suspected as cause of death in farm worker

GRANT COUNTY — The death of a Grant County farm worker last month is thought to have been caused by the Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

The Grant County Health District received reports in September about the farm worker's death, the only known Hantavirus-related death in the county in recent years. State level lab tests performed in October confirmed the presence of the virus in the individual.

The Hantavirus is caused from exposure to the dried feces and urine of rodents. People can also become infected after inhaling contaminated dust in rodent-infested areas. It is not communicable from person to person.

Peggy Grigg, personal health services director with the GCHD, said the district is following up on the Hantavirus infection with prevention intervention to residents and businesses in the area where the infected individual had resided. That intervention has consisted of sharing information about how individuals can protect themselves from rodents and how to clean areas where rodents reside, she added.

Grigg declined comment as to the area in Grant County where the infected farm worker resided.

Since the disease was first identified, there have been 27 cases of Hantavirus reported in Washington, most of which occurred between March and July with nine of the cases being fatal.

Most often the disease is fatal, but can be prevented by reducing rodent infestation and using precautions when cleaning rodent-infested areas.

"Although it is rare, Hantavirus continues to be a threat," said Dr. John Grendon, public health veterinarian at the state Department of Health in a statement released by the GCHD Oct. 13. "It's important for people, especially those living in or visiting rural areas where deer mice are most common, to know how they can prevent this potentially deadly disease."

Grendon also mentioned that since 1993, 14 percent of 1,000 Washington deer mice that were tested have been positive for Hantavirus.

Deer mice are different from other mice in that they have white bellies and furry tails. They spread Hantavirus through their urine, saliva and feces.

There have been no further reports about suspected cases or unexplained deaths since the GCHD released a statement on the Hantavirus Thursday.

Grigg said so far, the Hantavirus investigation has cost the health district between $1,300 and $1,400.

For more information on the Hantavirus see the DOH Web site at www.doh.wa.gov.

The following precautions are recommended to avoid infection:

? Keep rodents out of homes and garages by sealing openings where rodents can enter, specifically around pipes, windows, doors, roofs and siding.

? Air out rodent-infested cabins, barns, sheds, garages, trailers, homes, workplaces and other structures for one hour before cleaning an area.

? Wear rubber gloves during clean up of any rodent-infested areas.

? Disinfect areas where rodents have been with a bleach and water mixture or other viral disinfectant, and let it soak for 10 minutes.

? Clean with rags, sponges and mops soaked with bleach or viral disinfectant.

? Do not vacuum, sweep, use leaf blowers or dust in rodent-infested areas as it can stir up dust particles that may contain the virus.