A second Washoe County resident has contracted hantavirus and died. This is the second fatal case of hantavirus since 2017and highlights the seriousness of this disease. Dr. Randall Todd, Director of the Washoe County Health District Epidemiology and Public Health Preparedness Division says, on average, 38% of hantavirus cases are fatal. Infected rodents, most commonly deer mice, shed the virus in their droppings, urine, and saliva. Hantavirus is mainly transmitted to people when they breathe in air contaminated with the virus.The Health District urges everyone to take precautions when entering spaces where mice may have been, such as storage places, garages, sheds, cabins and barns. Since it is hard to tell if a rodent carries hantavirus, it is best to avoid all wild mice and rats and to safely clean up any rodent urine, droppings, or nests in your home, using a mask, gloves and a bleach solution.