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" A West Virginia resident is the third person to die from the rare havantavirus after staying at Yosemite
National Park this summer, officials announced Thursday, as they raised to 25,000 the number of people
who might have been exposed.
All told,eight people have contracted the mouse-borne disease after spending one or more nights at the
popular park since June 10.
Seven of the infected people, including all who died, stayed in the "signature" tent cabins in Curry Village.
The park service closed all 91 of those cabins last week while it investigates how to protect the public.
The remaining infected person stayed in several of Yosemite's High Sierra camps. Park employees are
now attempting to contact the nearly 12,000 people who visited those areas this summer and urge them to
seek immediate medical care if they develop symptoms... It can take up to six weeks for symptoms to
develop. People initially may feel like they are getting the flue with fatigue, fever, chills and muscle aches.
But after a few days, their health may deteriorate rapidly...
The person who stayed in the High Sierra area "exhibited very mild symptoms. He never was hospitalized, and he recovered," a spokesperson said. That person stayed in tent cabins in Tuolomne
Meadows Lodge, Merced Lake Camp, Sunrise High Sierra Camp, and Vogelsang Camp. He also did some
backpacking.
In addition to the West Virginia resident, others who died included a 37-year old Alameda County man
and a Pennsylvania resident. The five who are recovering from the disease were all California residents.
But because Yosemite has so many international visitors, the park service has put out a worldwide alert for
doctors to be on the lookout for cases.
The signature tent cabins that have been the focal point of the investigation into how the disease is
spreading have a double-walled design. The park decided to close those cabins before the busy Labor Day
weekend after finding evidence of mouse activity in the gaps between the walls.
A phone line set up for questions- (209) 372-0822 has been receiving 200 to 500 calls a day. It is
open from 9 a.m. to 5.p.m. daily.
Since hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was identified in 1993, about 60 cases have been reported in
California and 602 nationally."

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Also a bit interesting that you keep returning to read these threads. You don't have to, you know.

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