Hantavirus and Tuba City (Prescott, Lukachukai: camping, living, floors)

[Lukachukai]

Does anyone have any information on the outbreaks of Hantavirus on the Navajo Nation ?

If you moved to Tuba City do you think there would there be a risk of contracting this disease ?

[esselcue]

Hantavirus is contracted by breathing in the dust and feces from mice, etc. Unless you are exposed to nesting mice, such as in barns, garages, attics, you probably would not be exposed. I haven't heard of any cases yet this year...but I live near Prescott.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Lukachukai

Does anyone have any information on the outbreaks of Hantavirus on the Navajo Nation ?

If you moved to Tuba City do you think there would there be a risk of contracting this disease ?

I have lived in Tuba City. There are precautions that you would want to take to reduce the very small risk of contracting this disease.

Most of the cases reported on the Navajo Nation occured where people were living with dirt floors - assuming this would not be your case - you should not have much to worry about.

The County Health Department has a lot of common sense things to do -

Good luck!

[AZRiverRat]

Here's a link from the CDC....

Homepage | CDC Hantaviruses

Cases seem to rise after a wet rainy season.

[LBear]

Originally Posted by Lukachukai

Does anyone have any information on the outbreaks of Hantavirus on the Navajo Nation ?

If you moved to Tuba City do you think there would there be a risk of contracting this disease ?

There was one confirmed case in Navajo County this year. The person survived. In 2007 there were 6 cases of Hantavirus in Arizona. Three died and three survived. The one case in Navajo County, the person died.

There is no cure and the fatality rate is 50%. If one does NOT get emergency room treatment, the death rate is 100%. The best place for treatment is Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Brian Hjelle found the virus back in the 90's and he is the pioneer in treating it and trying to find a cure.

CLICK HERE

He calls the disease, an "orphan disease" as the government does not give $$$ to search for a cure because it usually only strikes farmers and those living on Indian Reservations. In other words, the government doesn't care.

Don't forget, numerous cases go unreported or misdiagnosed. An estimated 30%-50% goes unreported or misdiagnosed. So if 6 people got it one year in AZ, a safe bet would be that 9 people actually got it.

The 4 corners is ground zero for the Deer Mouse and the Hantavirus. Depending on the year, 1 in 10 or up to 4 in 10 mice are carriers. That means EVERY Deer Mouse should be viewed as having the virus. It is NOT worth the risk.

There is someone on this forum that got it when they were camping. They almost died and they were in a coma for 1 week on a heart and lung machine. Unfortunately, the virus left them paralyzed from the waist down.

[bamabelle69]

Hanta virus has now been found in EVERY state. Not only are deer mice reservoirs for the disease, but also Norwegian rats, which are common prety much everywhere, but are foudn in large concentrations in urban areas. Additionally, a new form of the disease has been discovered that is less acute. THe new form seems to attack the kidneys and is a long, chronic illness, according to the latest research.

[LBear]

Originally Posted by bamabelle69

Hanta virus has now been found in EVERY state. Not only are deer mice reservoirs for the disease, but also Norwegian rats, which are common prety much everywhere, but are foudn in large concentrations in urban areas. Additionally, a new form of the disease has been discovered that is less acute. THe new form seems to attack the kidneys and is a long, chronic illness, according to the latest research.

Interesting to know about the new form of the virus.

The Hantavirus is much more predominant in the 4 corner region. While it has spread, the southwest still has the most cases in the entire USA. I remember reading that the Northwest is now having cases. Places like Oregon, Washington state are getting more and more cases.

This is troubling and sad. As these viruses spread and mutate, the possibility of a pandemic grows. If you research human history, plagues and viruses wiped out millions in times past. We are not immune from such an outbreak. SARS is in the same family as the Hantavirus.

[JetSet]

Don't rob the deer mouse nests for piñon nuts and you should be ok.

[LBear]

Originally Posted by JetSet

Don't rob the deer mouse nests for piñon nuts and you should be ok.

???

[JetSet]

Originally Posted by LBear

???

If I remember right (highly unlikely) the first reported cases of this deadly virus was found in some family members who were collecting piñon pine nuts. Some members of the family found that collecting this healthy and tasty nut was easier if you just robbed them from a deer mouse nest since they had already had them stored in a nice little pile.