A Mohave County resident has died after contracting hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), prompting health officials to remind residents to take precautions around rodents and rodent-infested areas.
The death, confirmed by the Mohave County Department of Public Health in coordination with the Arizona Department of Health Services, marks the county’s first recorded fatality linked to the Sin Nombre strain of hantavirus.
The case occurred in the Kingman service area, though investigators have not been able to determine the exact source of exposure. Officials say local transmission remains a possibility.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare but potentially deadly respiratory disease that is most commonly spread through contact with infected rodents or by inhaling airborne particles contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
The Sin Nombre virus, the strain responsible for most U.S. hantavirus cases, is carried primarily by deer mice found throughout the American Southwest.
Health authorities stressed that the Mohave County case is unrelated to recent international reports involving the Andes strain of hantavirus that was linked to several deaths aboard a cruise ship in the South Atlantic. Unlike the Andes virus, Sin Nombre virus is not known to spread from person to person.
“Although hantavirus is uncommon, awareness and prevention are important, especially for people spending time outdoors or cleaning areas where rodents may be present,” Mohave County Department of Public Health Director Melissa Palmer said in a statement.
Arizona historically reports only a small number of hantavirus infections each year. State health officials have previously noted that annual case totals typically remain low, though infections can carry a high fatality rate when they occur.
Early symptoms of hantavirus infection can resemble the flu and may include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, chills, nausea, and abdominal discomfort.
As the disease progresses, some patients develop severe respiratory symptoms that can rapidly become life-threatening. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no specific cure for hantavirus, making early medical attention critical.
Public health officials are urging residents to avoid sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings directly, as this can release contaminated particles into the air. Instead, affected areas should be ventilated and cleaned using appropriate disinfectants while wearing protective equipment.
The investigation into the Mohave County case remains ongoing as health authorities work to determine how the individual may have been exposed.
