One man dead from rodent-borne disease in Yosemite

Yosemite National Park officials say a man has died and a woman is recovering after contracting what appears to be a deadly rodent-borne hantavirus in a popular vacation area of the park.

Park spokesman Scott Gediman said two adults, who have not been identified and were not traveling together, stayed at the park's Curry Village lodging area on overlapping days in June. 

Park and public health officials said Thursday tests confirmed that the man died of hantavirus in late July. The virus takes about six weeks to incubate. No other details on the two patients were immediately available.

Gediman said hantavirus has recently been found in deer mice around the Curry Village area. He said park officials have stepped up efforts to disinfect cabins and rooms, and have been trapping and testing mice. 

The recent cases bring the number of hantavirus cases in California this year to four, public health officials said.

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-- Rebecca Trounson

Photo: A man died and a woman is recovering after contracting the rodent-borne hantavirus while staying at Yosemite National Park. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times