U.S. officials have put out warnings to travelers from 39 countries who had stayed in certain Yosemite National Park tents earlier this year. These individuals could have been exposed to hantavirus, the mouse-born disease that have killed two men thus far.
Officials have sent warnings to these 39 countries that their citizens stayed in the national park tents this summer and could have been exposed. Out of the 10,000 people that are said to be at risk of the disease, approximately 2,500 live outside the U.S. said Dr. David Wong to Reuters.
Wong told Reuters that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notified 39 countries over the weekend, most of which are in the European Union.
Hantavirus is contracted by mice and is a lung disease. It as killed two men and sickened four U.S. citizens.
Officials are concerned that more people could develop the lung disease in the next month after being exposed in Yosemite. Most of the victims identified were believed to have been infected in the Curry Village camping area of Yosemite in the tent-style cabins.
There is no cure for the potentially deadly disease, but early detection is key to increase survival rates.
Last week park officials closed down the tents after finding deer mice, that could carry the disease.
Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, shortness of breath and coughing. The virus can show up to six weeks after exposure.
According to Reuters, hantavirus kills 36 percent of those infected but has never been known to be transmitted human to human.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
