2 hantavirus deaths reported in Coconino County; what you need to know

COCONINO COUNTY, AZ (AZFamily) — Officials are warning the public to be cautious after two people died from hantavirus in Coconino County.

Three hantavirus cases have been reported in the past 15 months, two of which have died. Coconino County’s last reported hantavirus case happened in 2016.

Meanwhile, Arizona has seen an uptick in hantavirus activity. From January to July 2024, seven cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) have been confirmed, resulting in three deaths. It’s unclear where that third death occurred.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says HPS is a severe and sometimes deadly respiratory illness caused by the infection with hantaviruses.

Hantavirus is spread from rodents, specifically the deer mouse that’s found in Arizona. Humans can catch the airborne virus by touching or handling items contaminated with rodent urine, saliva or feces.

Officials say the virus is not spread from person to person. Hantavirus can be found anywhere there’s rodent activity, even if mice are never spotted.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, muscle aches progressing rapidly and severe difficulty in breathing.

Do you have rodent activity inside your home? Here are clean-up tips to follow:

• Prior to starting clean-up, open all doors and windows, especially in areas that have been closed for an long period of time, such as a garage or storage shed that are not used year-round.
• Leave these open for 30 minutes before cleaning. If possible, allow direct sunlight in the area.
• Do not stir up dust in the infested area by vacuuming or sweeping. This will allow virus particles to go into the air, where they can be breathed in, and potentially causing infection.
• When rodent droppings or nests are found, spray them with a household disinfectant (such as one-part bleach to nine parts water) and allow them to soak for at least 15 minutes
• Any rodent droppings and rodent nests should be sprayed with a pesticide to kill fleas before disinfecting or disposing the carcasses.
• After disinfecting, wear rubber gloves and clean up the droppings with disposable materials such as paper towels, rags, or disposable mop heads.
• Seal all materials, droppings or nests in double plastic bags and throw them away.

Keep rodents out of your home by plugging and sealing all holes and gaps and remove outdoor junk or clutter. You should move woodpiles, lumber and hay bales as far away from the house as possible.

Officials also advise you to avoid leaving pet food in dishes and use a tight-fitting lid on your trash can.

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