Overview

• Public health officials in Mammoth Lakes, California, have confirmed three deaths from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) within a short time span, describing the situation as 'tragic' and 'alarming.'
• The virus, which killed Betsy Arakawa in February, is primarily transmitted through contact with rodent waste, with deer mice being the main carriers.
• One case in Mammoth Lakes was linked to vacuuming rodent waste, but the sources of exposure for the other two victims remain unclear, deepening the mystery.
• The outbreak is unusual for its timing, as hantavirus cases are typically reported later in the spring or summer, prompting increased vigilance among health officials.
• No new cases have been reported in the past month, but officials remain concerned about elevated deer mouse populations in the Eastern Sierra region potentially increasing the risk of exposure.