90-Second Read: San Quentin reports possible Hantavirus case in inmate

San Quentin confirmed a 38-year-old inmate had a possible case of Hantavirus, but said no quarantine was announced. San Quentin Rehabilitation Center officials confirmed Wednesday that a 38-year-old incarcerated man had contracted a possible case of Hantavirus, the rare rodent-borne virus that has drawn renewed attention after a recent cruise ship outbreak. The possible San Quentin case comes weeks after California health officials monitored several residents who may have been exposed to a different strain of Hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. An inmate who is on death row gets escorted through the hall in San Quentin prison in San Quentin, Calif., on Monday, March 25, 2024.

No quarantine has been announced, and the prison said it had not seen any other suspected Hantavirus cases at the facility, a spokesperson told the station. That outbreak involved Andes Hantavirus, a strain found in parts of South America that has been associated with rare person-to-person spread after close, prolonged contact with someone who is ill. California typically reports only a small number of Hantavirus cases each year. There are more than 3,000 individuals incarcerated at the facility.

The inmate at the Marin County prison was in stable condition, ABC7 reported. In California, people usually become infected after breathing air contaminated with particles from the urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents, especially deer mice, according to the California Department of Public Health. The virus can cause Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness that can begin with fever, fatigue and muscle aches before progressing to coughing, shortness of breath and fluid buildup in the lungs. People who develop fever, difficulty breathing or other symptoms after possible rodent exposure should seek medical care and tell a health provider about the exposure, health officials say.

The strain most commonly associated with California cases is Sin Nombre virus, which is carried by deer mice and is not known to spread from person to person. Recent cases in the state have been tied most often to rodent exposure in rural or mountain areas, including the Eastern Sierra. The California Department of Public Health recommends ventilating closed spaces before cleaning, wearing gloves, using disinfectant and avoiding sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings.