Hantavirus… Should Canadians be worried? |

Most of us have heard the alarming news about the Hantavirus outbreak in Yosemite National Park, California where visitors became infected with the hantavirus while staying in tent cabins. Generally, the virus is transmitted when people come in contact with urine and droppings of infected mice. The following video provides a good overview of the outbreak in Yosemite…

Canadians being ardent campers and hikers made me wonder whether we should also be concerned about the hantavirus? The good news is that the disease is relatively rare and that this outbreak appears to be confined to Yosemite. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns us in Facts about Hantaviruses, that we should all be vigilant around rodents particularly when handling their droppings – even close to home.

For further information about the hantavirus and other emerging infectious diseases, check out one of these books from the library.