HANTAVIRUS HAS TAKEN THE LIFE OF A 25 YEAR OLD MCKINLEY COUNTY MAN. NEW MEXICO’S PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIAN, DOCTOR PAUL ETTESTAD, SAYS THIS IS THE THIRD DEATH THIS YEAR FROM THE VIRUS, WITH THE OTHER TWO VICTIMS BEING A 30 YEAR OLD MAN AND 54 YEAR OLD MAN.
ETTESTAD SAYS HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS WITH GOOD IMMUNE SYSTEMS SEEMS TO BE THE ONES AT HIGHER RISK AND DEVELOP THE MOST SEVERE SYMPTOMS. HE SAYS HANTAVIRUS CAUSES YOUR OWN IMMUNE SYSTEM TO ATTACK YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.
TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE RECOVERED. ETTESTAD SAYS PEOPLE ARE SEEING MORE RODENTS THIS SPRING, INCREASING THE CHANCES FOR EXPOSURE. HANTAVIRUS IS SPREAD THROUGH RODENT DROPPINGS.
