Yosemite hikers warned of health risk

Vacationers to Yosemite National Park, CA, are getting quite a scare this week. On Tuesday, 1,700 visitors were informed by officials that they may have been exposed to hantavirus and were at risk of developing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare rodent-borne illness that has already claimed the lives of two national park visitors.

 Around 1700 people were alerted by email that those who stayed in the “Signature Tent Cabins” in Yosemite’s Curry Village from mid-June through the end of August may be at risk for the disease that causes flu-like symptoms including fever, aches and chills. The virus, which is transmitted by rodents such as deer mice, is spread to people who inhale dust particles that have come in contact with  urine, saliva and feces of infected animals. So far, three cases of the disease have been confirmed and health officials are investigating a fourth probable case.

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