Michigan’s first human hantavirus case identified in Washtenaw County woman, health officials confirmed. The woman has been hospitalized.
The following written content by Kristen Jordan Shamus
Michigan health officials confirmed the first human case of the Sin Nombre hantavirus in a Washtenaw County woman who has been hospitalized.
The disease is linked to exposure to the urine, feces and saliva of infected deer mice and white-footed mice.
Humans become infected when freshly dried rodent excrement is disturbed and inhaled, or when it get into breaks in the skin or on mucous membranes or when ingesting contaminated food or water. Bites from rodents can also transmit hantavirus.
The highest risk of exposure occurs when entering or cleaning rodent-infested structures.
The Washtenaw County woman was likely infected while cleaning a residential dwelling that had been unoccupied for about two years; there were signs of an active rodent infestation, said Susan Ringler-Cerniglia, a spokeswoman for the county health department.
“We believe the individual was exposed when cleaning out the dwelling. Fecal matter … from the infestation likely became airborne during cleaning and was inhaled by the individual,” she said.
“This infection is still considered very rare and can be avoided, even with significant infestations, with precautions when cleaning.”
The Washtenaw County woman was hospitalized and treated for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, but is recovering and no longer hospitalized, she said.
“HPS is caused by some strains of hantavirus and is a rare but severe and sometimes fatal respiratory disease that can occur one to five weeks after a person has exposure to fresh urine, droppings or saliva from infected rodents,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive at the state health department, said in a statement issued Monday.
“Anyone who comes into contact with rodents that carry hantavirus is at risk for HPS and healthcare providers with a suspect case of hantavirus should contact their local health department to report the case and discuss options for confirmatory testing.” Read more from Detroit Free Press.
