Monday, July 8, 2013

Saskatchewan woman dies after contracting hantavirus

The StarPhoenix July 8, 2013 6:06 PM
Saskatchewan woman dies after contracting hantavirus
 Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal illness, usually contracted by exposure to infected rodents like deer mice. One-third of hantavirus cases are fatal, with the majority of cases occurring in otherwise healthy adults. Photograph by: John Good , AP Photo/National Park Service
A second person in Saskatchewan has died as a result of complications from hantavirus.
A woman living in the Heartland Health Region, in western Saskatchewan, died in late-June, the provincial government confirmed on Monday. It was the second hantavirus-related death in the Heartland Health Region in June; a man also died as a result of complications from the illness.
Though the two cases were both in the same health region, they are not believed to be connected, provincial officials said.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal illness, usually contracted by exposure to infected rodents like deer mice. One-third of hantavirus cases are fatal, with the majority of cases occurring in otherwise healthy adults.
The woman’s death last month was the 25th hantavirus case, and eighth death, in Saskatchewan since 1994, according to the provincial government.

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