Park rangers at California's Yosemite National Park are warning visitors about an outbreak of the rodent-borne hantavirus. Two tourists have died and two more were infected. Rangers have distributed fliers but do not feel this should alter plans to visit. "We don't want people to think they can't come to Yosemite. Even with the hantavirus we expect to be full. Labor Day is traditionally very busy." (via USA TODAY)

  • Gerald Mander

    The hantavirus outbreak has been limited to the enclosed tent/cabins of Curry Village (which is where I’ll be in about 10 days, yeesh) — understandable, as these are perennial structures that attract rodents. Anyone bringing their own tent or vehicle for camping should be fine.

    • awjt

      Mr. Redistricter, you aorta consider just bringing your own tent instead… I wouldn’t stay in one a doze if my mommy told me to. Heck no.  I thought they were skanky in 1983 when I first saw them, and they are still skanky.  Bleh.

      • Gerald Mander

        All tent campgrounds are full up. Friend of mine has a rez. My car is comfy, though. :)

        • awjt

          Yep.  Take a truck with a cap and throw a futon back there.  It’s like a driveable full-sized bed.  You can even string up some little tiki lights.

          • http://boingboing.net/ Jason Weisberger

            Volkswagen Vanagon GL Westfalia

    • xzzy

      Unrelated to this story, but GTNP has those “tent cabins” too. I’d guess they’re somewhat common at national parks but I haven’t visited them all yet.

      At any rate, I could never figure out why anyone thought tent cabins were a good idea. If you’re going to invest manpower to build two permanent walls to hang some canvas off, why not go for broke and make it four walls and a roof? 

      Or if you’re really determined to make complete shelters, why not put down some gravel and build another traditional tent campground? 

      • Antinous / Moderator

        going to invest manpower to build two permanent walls to hang some canvas off, why not go for broke and make it four walls and a roof?

        It’s probably against the park’s charter to build any more permanent structures.

  • bkhl

    Just apply the usual rule of not petting the rats and bears.

    • CH

      Although that is, as usual, a very good idea, with this you have to add in a new rule of “don’t breathe in their shit”. I know… lots of rules to remember!

      • Paul Renault

        And burn any clothes they run or pee on.

        Oh, and bring a few cats mousers… They’re not all good mousers.

  • dioptase

    We shouldn’t be calling it hanta (though it is a hanta virus).  Hanta  is one class of viruses that cause a form of hemorrhagic disease.  Distant relative of marburg and ebola (at least symptom wise).  The one here in the US that makes news is called Sin Nombre.  It got that name because nobody wanted it named after them.

    • CH

      Hey, interesting! I didn’t realize that your “hanta” was a different “hanta” than what we got. Ours, which is a much milder disease and caused by the Puumala virus, was also called for awhile “hanta” by the news, although now I think all just call it “vole fever” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephropathia_epidemica

      But yes… even with the four cases of SNV it shouldn’t affect anybody that is “just” visiting the park. One might think twice about going into any barns or houses that have been empty (not counting rodents) for awhile, though.

      • Ronald Pottol

        Well, there are many tent cabins to stay in, and they have mice…..

        It only kills 1/3 of the people who develop any symptoms.

    • LaylaSV

      Sin Nombre is a badass name for a virus. Also for a lucha libre super villain.

  • http://halfbakedmaker.org Robert Baruch

    Dear campers: Hantavirus season is upon us. Please remember not to kiss the mice and rats. You must resist their kissy-faces. Thank you, The Management.

    • Antinous / Moderator

      In my day, we just swallowed goldfish. I don’t know what’s wrong with these young people and their mouse-licking contests.