Deadly hantavirus sickens another in the region

A Grant County resident is seriously ill from a suspected case of hantavirus.

If confirmed, it'll be the first case in the county in six years.

In 2012, two people in Grant County, died from the illness.

Hantavirus is found in the urine, droppings and saliva of infected rodents, and it can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but serious illness.

The death last year of a young Franklin County mother was linked to the illness.

Officials didn't release the current patient's name or gender, but said exposure to contaminated deer mice droppings likely happened while the middle-aged patient was cleaning out a car.

The patient is improving but remains in the hospital with respiratory failure, the Grant County Health District reported.

Preliminary tests were positive, but confirmation is pending.

Deer mice are the only hantavirus carriers in Washington. People can become infected by breathing in or touching contaminated particles, and also from rodent bites.

The illness isn't spread from person-to-person.

The Benton Franklin Health District says the symptoms begin one to eight weeks after inhaling the virus or coming in contact with it.

Typically flu-like symptoms, including fever, severe body aches, headaches, vomiting and tiredness can advance to coughing and trouble breathing, said health officials.

Because it progresses quickly, "it is extremely important to seek medical treatment if you are ill and feel you may have been exposed," said the district website.

This story was originally published May 3, 2018 at 10:42 AM with the headline "Deadly hantavirus sickens another in the region."