Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship triggers painful memories for Bend family
Deschutes County Health shares crucial prevention tips to avoid contracting the virus.
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend family is feeling a painful sense of déjà vu as a hantavirus outbreak on a luxury cruise ship makes national headlines. For Susie Moon, the story is more than news — it brings back the loss of her son Brad, who died 15 years ago from the rare disease.
A family’s loss
Moon says the latest headlines have been difficult to watch.
Brad, a Bend High graduate, was working for the Forest Service in Colorado when he went out to help a friend build a cabin deep in the wilderness. Officials believe he was exposed to the virus from rodent droppings, possibly inhaled through his facial hair.
“But he had a big beard. So they think it ended up in his beard until he got home,” Moon said.
At first, no one thought much of the mild cold symptoms Brad showed. Then came the call every parent fears.
“His friend, who he was with, called me on that Tuesday evening and told me what happened, and it was a shock,” Moon said.
When asked if she believed it at first, Moon was blunt: “No. He lived in Colorado and it felt like he was still in Colorado working.”
How hantavirus spreads
Health officials say most cases happen when people clean up rodent droppings, often in sheds, outbuildings or cabins. Deschutes County Health Officer Dr. Richard Fawcett said patients with the infection often have been cleaning in those types of spaces.
“Patients with this infection have been doing cleaning. That often it’s called sheds or outbuildings or cabins,” Fawcett said.
Officials say the western deer mouse is the most common rodent tied to the virus in Oregon. Deschutes County health workers say the disease appears more often in Central and Eastern Oregon, in part because of older buildings and a larger rodent population.
“It’s more common in Central Oregon and Eastern Oregon,” said Rita Bacho, Deschutes County Health Program Manager.
Prevention steps
Health officials are urging people to protect themselves before doing spring cleaning, especially in places where rodents may have been active. They recommend wearing gloves, a mask and even a gown when cleaning sheds, cabins or other outbuildings.
If you find rat droppings or urine, the advice is to soak the area in bleach, wait 30 minutes, and then clean it while wearing full protective gear.
Still, officials say there’s no reason for panic.
“We don’t want people to panic or be fearful because this is very much preventable,” Bacho said.
A message of awareness
Moon says she hopes more people learn from what happened to her family. “It makes my heart heavy, but people are learning about it,” she said. She believes that awareness could save lives and help keep Brad’s memory alive at the same time.
Important distinction
There is one important difference between the hantavirus strain that killed Brad and the strain connected to the cruise ship outbreak. Health officials say Brad died from Sin Nombre virus, which is the most common strain in the U.S.
Officials also stress that the strain is not spread from person to person. The cruise ship strain is different and can spread between people, but it is not naturally found in the United States.
