California health officials warn of deadly Hantavirus

Health officials in central California have confirmed the deaths of three people from hantavirus. It is the same rare and often fatal disease, contracted through mice and rodent droppings, that killed Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy, in February in New Mexico.

The three deaths in California occurred in the past two months in Mammoth Lakes, a popular skiing area. It is unclear how they contracted the disease.

Hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe and often fatal disease. Transmission occurs through inhalation of particles from the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents, especially the deer mouse, which is common in rural and suburban areas.

Recently, in Mammoth Lakes, California, three deaths from hantavirus have been confirmed in less than two months, raising concern among public health officials. The cases occurred in individuals who lived and worked in the area, with symptoms starting in February. One of the affected individuals had a mouse infestation in their home, while no clear exposure was found in the other two cases. Additionally, mice were observed at the workplaces, although not in unusual numbers for the season.

Historically, California has reported sporadic cases of hantavirus. Between 1980 and 2024, 93 cases were recorded in state residents, with a mortality rate of 36%. Most of these cases have been concentrated in rural areas and the eastern regions of the Sierra Nevada, including Mono County.

The early onset and concentration of cases in Mammoth Lakes this year are unusual, as outbreaks typically occur in spring or summer. Public health authorities recommend additional precautions, such as avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings, and keeping living spaces clean and sealed to prevent infestations.