Outbreak of Hantavirus Infection in Yosemite National Park

Updated: September 17, 2012

September 13, 2012

Case Count Update

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that there are now 9 confirmed cases (including 3 deaths) of hantavirus infection in visitors to Yosemite National Park since June of this year. Eight of the nine individuals with hantavirus infection stayed in Yosemite's Signature Tent Cabins in Curry Village. The ninth person hiked and camped in Tuolumne Meadows and the High Sierra Camps, located about 15 miles from Curry Village.

Update: Hantavirus in Yosemite
From the National Park Service (NPS) website.

September 6, 2012

Case Count Update

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that there are now 8 confirmed cases (including 3 deaths) of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in visitors to Yosemite National Park. Seven of the people with HPS stayed at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park since June of this year. The eighth person hiked and camped in Tuolumne Meadows and the High Sierra Camps, located about 15 miles from Curry Village.

The park is now providing information regarding HPS risks and symptoms to parties who made reservations at the High Sierra Camps this summer.

Update: Yosemite National Park Continues Response to Hantavirus Case
From the National Park Service (NPS) website.

August 31, 2012

CDC Health Advisory

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a national health advisory, Notice to Health Care Providers: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Cases Associated with Staying in Yosemite National Park, California. The purpose of this this advisory, which was distributed through CDC's Health Alert Network, is to inform state health departments and health care providers to be alert to the possibility of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in patients who may have had recent exposure to rodents or a history of travel to Yosemite National Park during June through August 2012.

Notice to Health Care Providers: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Cases Associated with Staying in Yosemite National Park, California
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

August 31, 2012

Case Count Update

Yosemite National Park announced that it continues to scale up its public health response and outreach as a result of 6 confirmed cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in individuals who visited the since June of this year.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Response Continues at Yosemite National Park (August 31, 2012)
From the National Park Service (NPS) website.

August 30, 2012

Case Count Update

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced there are now 6 confirmed cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in visitors who stayed at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park since June of this year.

Hantavirus Found in Four More Visitors to Yosemite National Park
From the National Park Service (NPS) website.

August 29, 2012

Initial CDC Announcement

On August 27, 2012, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that there were 3 confirmed cases and 1 probable case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in visitors who stayed at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park since June of this year. NPS public health officials believe that these visitors may have been exposed to hantavirus while staying at the Signature Tent Cabins in Curry Village. Two people have died. CDC and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are working with NPS in responding to the situation.

The park is contacting visitors who stayed in the Signature Tent Cabins from mid-June through the end of August, advising them to seek immediate medical attention if they exhibit symptoms of HPS. HPS is a rare but serious disease and confirmed cases should be reported to CDC via state health departments.

CDPH and Yosemite National Park public health officials are conducting rodent surveys for the purpose of monitoring the numbers (abundance of) deer mice and hantavirus activity in the park's mouse populations. They are also providing health education and prevention messages to the public.

The Yosemite National Park has a non-emergency phone line (209-372-0822) for questions and concerns related to hantavirus in Yosemite National Park. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a hotline number (404-639-1510) and information about HPS on the Hantavirus webpage.