FAQS: Life Sciences Unit
How many cases of hantavirus have there been in Saskatchewan?
Hantavirus is a relatively rare respiratory disease carried by rodents, especially deer mice. As of March, 2001, six people have been diagnosed with hantavirus infections, and 35 cases have been reported throughout Canada. The virus is transmitted by breathing in air contaminated by the saliva or droppings of infected rodents. However, less than 1% of the rodents tested in Saskatchewan were infected, and generally it takes significant exposure under bad ventilation for a human to catch the disease. The symptoms of hantavirus are like the flu, and include headaches, fever, muscle aches and coughing. Fluid then builds up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. For more information contact Saskatchewan Health.
For further information contact the Curator of Life Sciences
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