New case of Hantavirus reported in King County

August 28, 2023.Reading time 10 minutes.

Hantavirus can cause a rare but deadly disease called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). In Washington state, hantavirus is spread by deer mice.

Public Health is currently investigating a case in a teenage King County resident. This person was hospitalized in early August and is now recovering. The patient reported being exposed to a mouse infestation at his house in Issaquah and also bitten by a rodent in the woods in a residential area in Issaquah, Washington.

5 important tips for staying safe when cleaning areas with rodents

March 19, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Some mice (deer mice, specifically) can carry hantavirus in their urine and droppings, This virus is rare, but can be potentially deadly in humans. So, if you are doing your annual spring cleaning and notice signs of infestation, take caution when cleaning it up.

QUIZ: Is your residence rat-proofed for the winter?

December 20, 2017.Reading time 9 minutes.

When it gets cold and rainy, we humans bundle up and retreat to the indoors. Unfortunately, so do rats. Besides being unsightly, rats spread bacteria and viruses, and they can cause damage to buildings, houses and even vehicles. So, before you settle in for the season, make sure you’ve done what you can to keep […]

RABID BAT FOUND AT BALLARD INTERSECTION

August 24, 2017.Reading time less than 1 minute.

A rabid bat was found at the intersection of NW 73rd and 8th Ave NW in the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard on August 22nd. If you had any contact with a bat at this intersection on Tuesday or Wednesday, contact Public Health (206-296-4774) immediately for information on preventative treatment. Rabies can be life-threatening, but is preventable […]

Rodents, your car, and hantavirus: What to do if you suspect rodents are living in your vehicle

April 21, 2017.Reading time 9 minutes.

Here at the Insider, we’ve been talking to Dr. Meagan Kay, Medical Epidemiologist, about the cluster of hantavirus cases that we’ve had in King County over the last several months. Meagan, what is hantavirus? Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare but sometimes deadly disease that people can get by breathing in hantavirus contained in […]