PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 10, 2012
NEW YORK] US public health officials were expanding their warning to include more than 22,000 visitors to Yosemite National Park after the death of a third person exposed to the deadly mouse-borne hantavirus.
The latest victim, a West Virginia man, visited Yosemite in July. His death was confirmed on Thursday.
So far, eight people who visited the 1,100-square- mile park in California this summer have been infected. Three have died, while the five others are recovering, park officials said in a statement. Of the confirmed cases, six people are from California, one from Pennsylvania and one from West Virginia, according to the National Park Service.
Investigators initially focused their attention on cabins in the park's Curry Village sections, where seven of those infected had stayed before falling ill. They sent emails and letters to more than 10,000 guests who stayed or had reservations in the cabins from June 10 through September.
