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Kanawha County Officials Report Hantavirus Death

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By: Associated Press Email
Posted: Thu 5:42 PM, Sep 06, 2012

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Health officials in Kanawha County are confirming a death caused by hantavirus.

Officials for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department didn't immediately release details on the death. They've scheduled an afternoon news conference to discuss the case.

There is no cure for hantavirus. People can be infected by inhaling the virus or by handling infected rodents. Infected people usually have flu-like symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, chills and muscle and body aches.

In 2004, a Virginia Tech graduate student who was conducting field studies of small mammals in Elkins died after contracting the disease.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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