Skip to main content


10,000 visitors to Yosemite National Park at risk for Hantavirus

Four fell ill after staying at popular Curry Village camping site

Hantavirus, a deadly rodent-borne illness that first sickens people with flu-like symptoms before sometimes killing them is the chief concern for the 10,000 visitors to Yosemite National Park who stayed at a popular camping spot. Some 10,000 people who stayed in tent cabins at the park's Curry Village may have been exposed, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Most of the victims are thought to have bunked in one of the 91 'Signature' tent-style cabins in Yosemite's Curry Village camping area.

Most of the victims are thought to have bunked in one of the 91 'Signature' tent-style cabins in Yosemite's Curry Village camping area.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The CDC is urging lab testing of patients who exhibit symptoms consistent with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. They say that all visitors to the park from the month of July and August who exhibit such symptoms be tested, and doctors notify their respective health departments.

Two men have died from Hantavirus linked to the Yosemite outbreak and four have been sickened -- but survived. There is no cure for Hantavirus, but it can not be transmitted from one human being to another. The CDC said additional suspected cases were being investigated from "multiple health jurisdictions."

Most of the victims are thought to have bunked in one of the 91 "Signature" tent-style cabins in Yosemite's Curry Village camping area.

"An estimated 10,000 persons stayed in the 'Signature Tent Cabins' from June 10 through August 24, 2012," the CDC said. "People who stayed in the tents between June 10 and August 24 may be at risk of developing HPS in the next six weeks."

All 91 tents have been shut down of the insulated tent cabins after finding deer mice, which carry the disease and can burrow through holes the size of pencil erasers, nesting between the double walls.

Park authorities have contacted approximately 3,000 parties of visitors who stayed in the tent cabins since mid-June, advising them to seek immediate medical attention if they have symptoms of Hantavirus.

Nearly four million people from all over the world visit Yosemite, one of the nation's most popular national parks. The park's dramatic scenery and hiking trails makes it a very popular tourist destination. Roughly 70 percent of those visitors congregate in Yosemite Valley, where Curry Village is located.

Hantavirus begins causing flu-like symptoms, including headache, fever, muscle ache, shortness of breath and cough, and can lead to severe breathing difficulties and death.

The incubation period for the virus is typically two to four weeks after exposure. Just over a third of cases are fatal.

"Providers are reminded to consider the diagnosis of HPS in all persons presenting with clinically compatible illness and to ask about potential rodent exposure or if they had recently visited Yosemite National Park," the CDC says.

© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention:
The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Hantavirus, Yosemite National Park, rodents, flu-like symptoms, disease

NEWSLETTERS »

E-mail:       Zip Code: (ex. 90001)
Today's Headlines

Sign up for a roundup of the day's top stories. 5 days / week. See Sample

Rate This Article

Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

0 Comments

Leave a Comment

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment


Newsletter Sign Up

Marketplace

Click Here

The Ashes that Still Remain
Fr. Koys uses his Civil War knowledge and his love of the Catholic ... Read More


Click Here

Unique Invitations and Announcements
Shop for unique custom-printed invitations, announcements, and cards ... Read More