PHILLIPS COUNTY – A man who health officials initially thought died of influenza actually died from hantavirus, the Northeast Colorado Health Department determined Friday.
This is the third case of hantavirus in Colorado this year, and the first time the disease has been identified in a northeast Colorado resident.
All of this year's cases have been fatal.
The Phillips County man died in January. Another case was reported earlier this month in La Plata County.
Hantavirus is a respiratory disease carried by deer mice, which are found throughout North America. In Colorado, the virus is mainly transmitted by people breathing in air or dust contaminated with deer mouse urine and feces. It usually happens when they're cleaning out rodent-infested structures near their home.
Symptoms include fever, body aches, headache and vomiting. The illness can progress to respiratory distress within one to five days.
There is no effective treatment for hantavirus, and health officials say prevention is key.
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