Man recovering from hantavirus

GREELEY – A 30-year-old man is recovering after catching hantavirus, the second case of the potentially deadly disease this year.

The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment announced Tuesday the man is recovering from a case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

The case was confirmed by a test at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment laboratory on May 18.

The man was exposed to the virus in northeast Colorado sometime during April. He was treated at North Colorado Medical Center.

The first case of hantavirus in Colorado resulted in the death of a 28-year-old woman from Alamosa County earlier this month.

Hantavirus is carried by deer mice and can spread to humans when people inhale dirt and dust contaminated with a mouse's urine and/or feces.

Before cleaning out buildings and areas that have accumulations of mouse droppings, authorities say you should take these precautions:

*If there are mice occupying the building, use rodent control before cleaning the area. *Avoid stirring up dust by watering down the area with a mixture of water and bleach. *Open doors or windows to ventilate the building at least 30 to 60 minutes before cleaning. *Rodent-proof buildings by plugging holes or other places where mice come in. *Store all food, such as pet food, animal feed and bird seed in covered containers and properly dispose of garbage in sealed containers. *Eliminate places where mice can hide, wood and junk piles, abandoned vehicles and in construction materials.

The incubation period for hantavirus varies widely, but ranges from one to six weeks, with an average of two to three weeks.

Early symptoms of hantavirus include fever, headache and muscle pain, severe abdominal, joint and lower back pain, nausea and vomiting.

For more information or questions about hantavirus, contact the CO-HELP hotline at 1-877-462-2911. Additional information and a photograph of a deer or rural mouse can be viewed at www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoonosis/hanta/.