A recent Hantavirus death in Hettinger, North Dakota has somewhat unnerved me. Hantavirus is a respiratory disease carried by mice and other rodents. Humans can catch it when rodent urine or feces are disturbed and the virus gets into the air, although I understand that it isn’t transmitted between humans.
I remember this being prevalent in the Book Cliffs in Utah, but I didn’t realize the disease was on the northern plains, too. For those as creeped out by this as I am, here are some tips to rid your home of mice and here are some tips to prevent an infestation.
The earliest case I found of Hantavirus in North Dakota was in 1993.
I knew this gentleman and I know his mother. She works across the hall form me. It was just devastating. They didn’t know what it was until it was too late…which is kind of the virus’ MO from what I understand. He worked for the Ag department here and there was scuttlebutt about him cleaning out a grain bin before falling ill, which would make sense. There is a story about it in the Dickinson Press this morning. Just so sad.