Washington hantavirus case linked to mice, unrelated to cruise ship outbreak

The Chelan-Douglas Health District confirmed Friday a single case of Sin Nombre hantavirus in a Chelan County resident, a strain entirely distinct from the Andes hantavirus that spread aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship in early May.

Unlike the Andes strain, which is transmissible between people, Sin Nombre passes only from rodents to humans, health officials emphasized. The district is withholding patient details to protect privacy.

The case arrives as Washington residents begin spring-cleaning routines, the exact scenario health officials consider highest-risk for exposure. Dr. James Wallace, public health officer for the Chelan-Douglas Health District, noted the state typically sees one to five Sin Nombre cases per year statewide. “Taking simple precautions while cleaning or working in areas where rodents may be present can significantly reduce the risk of exposure,” Wallace said.

The CDC puts the mortality rate for those who develop respiratory symptoms from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome at 38%, making the illness serious despite its rarity.