Hantavirus, a disease that kills almost half of the people it infects, is the reason for a man's death in Eagle County, Colorado.
41-year-old Manuel Hernandez was originally from Mexico and was living in Eagle County for only two months before dying from the virus, according to Vail Daily News.
Jennifer Ludwig, Eagle County Public Health Director, said it is rare for someone in the town to contract Hantavirus, with Hernandez being the first case of the virus in Eagle County since 2005, CBS Local reported.
"Hantavirus is a very serious illness and about 40 percent of the cases are fatal," Ludwig said.
Almost every case in Colorado has involved coming into contact with deer mouse droppings that are most often found close to wood piles, outhouses or sheds that were locked up for the winter. Ludwig advised that people not sweep up or vacuum the excrement because doing so can aerosolize the material.
Those who catch Hantavirus can experience different symptoms, such as large aches in muscles, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, CBS Local reported.
The death of the man in Eagle County has health officials urging people to stay alert for signs of the virus, which they say can take six weeks to spot.
"We don't believe anybody else was exposed or at risk," Ludwig said. "This unfortunate event is an opportunity to let people know hantavirus, while rare, is still a threat in the community, as it is everywhere in Colorado."
[Note: An error in this story has been corrected since its initial publication date.]
