Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

What is Hantavirus? The Virus That Killed Gene Hackman's Wife
Variety ^ | Mar 7, 2025 | Josh Copitch

Posted on 03/07/2025 3:48:23 PM PST by nickcarraway

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 last
To: nickcarraway

Every case I’ve heard about where people survived the Hantavirus to say what happened they were cleaning, usually sweeping area with mouse droppings a few days before they got sick.

I think at press conference they said they found no droppings in home, but did in outbuilding.

It is rare for people to get it, but can be deadly. This whole deal is just so sad.


41 posted on 03/07/2025 5:21:50 PM PST by Tammy8 ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SecondAmendment

Hantavirus acts like a bad cold/flu then suddenly goes to respiratory distress. She likely had no idea she was that sick until it was too late.


42 posted on 03/07/2025 5:28:54 PM PST by Tammy8 ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Bob434

Dogs don’t get Hantavirus. Two of their dogs are fine, the third one that died was in a kennel and likely died from no water/food.


43 posted on 03/07/2025 5:32:01 PM PST by Tammy8 ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Had hantavirus and bubonic plague on the worksite (Nevada high desert), probably a few other goodies I didn’t hear about. Vermin control was a serious business.
We were supposed to call the mouse patrol guy if we found droppings or a nest, but if we were seriously pressed for time we were also trained on how to clean it up ourselves.
And leave the rattler/sidewinder/hog nose snake alone. They are excellent vermin control.


44 posted on 03/07/2025 5:49:15 PM PST by dagunk (-- Unknown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tammy8
Every case I’ve heard about where people survived the Hantavirus to say what happened they were cleaning, usually sweeping area with mouse droppings a few days before they got sick.

Yes, a local girl of 17 died of it a few years ago after cleaning out a trailer here in the Great Basin Desert on the California/Nevada border.

45 posted on 03/07/2025 7:57:57 PM PST by Inyo-Mono
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: cnsmom

Especially if they grew up dirt poor- they can’t get out of the habit if “being stingy” (or thrifty)- a lot of people are like thst actually. Hard habit to break


46 posted on 03/07/2025 8:50:17 PM PST by Bob434 (...Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: dagunk

Out east here, we had a sportsman’s dinner every year, and one year 2 researchers came out and gave a talk about their,jobs in the field. They both said that part of their job was to trap mice and check for diseases, viruses etc, and they stated emphatically that they never do so without full hazmat suit protection because of plague and hanta virus- even though it is extremely rare in the east, it still happens.

A hiker stopped at a lean to in order to sleep the night- it was a double walled lean-to and mice had gotten in between the walls and nested. Fella got back home from hike, and keeled over- hanta virus-mgot freaked out by their talk as mice are really common in the country, and we are always having to trap them with the snap traps- and you know that they defecate and pee when hit by the trap.

In ny someone in the city got,an infestation of mice, and cleaned up the droppings, and got the virus. I think he might survived, can’t remeber now- that was in the city.


47 posted on 03/07/2025 8:58:28 PM PST by Bob434 (...Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Trump Girl Kit Cat

One of the saddest stories ever.


48 posted on 03/07/2025 9:00:58 PM PST by Shortstop7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy
My friend in Arizona had mice in his garage, with a lot of droppings, and used a WETVAC to clean it up, and the EXHAUST AIR gave him the virus.....he was ill for weeks!!

We have rodent problems in our outbuilding over the winter. They are mostly deer mice. I always worry about hantavirus and wear a respirator while using a vacuum with a Hepa-filter. I prep by spraying the droppings down with bleach and sweeping up the ones that I can get to.

49 posted on 03/07/2025 9:14:21 PM PST by fireman15
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy

the remedy is simple, have a couple of house cats, no problem.


50 posted on 03/08/2025 9:10:14 AM PST by bdfromlv (Leavenworth hard time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Omnivore-Dan

he may not have ever used her bathroom in a mansion and with Alzheimer’s he probably lost track of time


51 posted on 03/08/2025 9:16:34 AM PST by bdfromlv (Leavenworth hard time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: HartleyMBaldwin

my sister was a public health nurse in Wyoming and Arizona for the tribal areas. both plague and hunta are not unusual on the high desert areas


52 posted on 03/08/2025 9:21:41 AM PST by bdfromlv (Leavenworth hard time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: bdfromlv

For sure. He may not have even known she was dead. She was taking care of him, and without her he probably got so weak he collapsed and died. So sad.


53 posted on 03/08/2025 12:17:26 PM PST by Omnivore-Dan (Shut)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: fireman15

I’ve done the same - worn a respirator, used a vacuum with a HEPA filter and sprayed the area beforehand with 10% bleach solution in water. Wore nitrile gloves when moving boxes, tools, etc. and washed in soap and water before disposing, then soap and water for hands.


54 posted on 03/08/2025 1:16:26 PM PST by CedarDave (New tagline under development)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: SecondAmendment
I don't think [the wife] was instantly incapacitated.
Yes, I don't understand that, either. I supposed they searched for medically related phone calls and internet searches.

Presumably she might have been self-medicating and ignoring her HV symptoms. I have not read that they found evidence of a head bump that might have disoriented her.

55 posted on 03/08/2025 1:45:28 PM PST by citizen (Political incrementalism is like compound interest for liberals - every little bit adds up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Tammy8

That explains my question, just above. She thought she had a flu and then it gets markedly worse, perhaps during sleep.


56 posted on 03/08/2025 1:55:05 PM PST by citizen (Political incrementalism is like compound interest for liberals - every little bit adds up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
The story of the hantavirus and why the New Mexico OMI was able to conclude it was her cause of death.

1993 Four Corners hantavirus outbreak

57 posted on 03/08/2025 2:24:45 PM PST by CedarDave (New tagline under development)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Apparently, there is a Hantavirus vaccine.

Not according to this article:

No vaccines exist to protect against Sin Nombre virus infection, so the main way to prevent infection is to avoid or minimize contact with mice that carry the virus.

58 posted on 03/08/2025 5:54:58 PM PST by CedarDave (New tagline under development)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-58 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson