The Wyoming Department of Health wants residents to take steps to help prevent hantavirus, a rare but potentially deadly disease spread by infected deer mice.

“As spring arrives and people begin cleaning cabins, sheds, garages, old vehicles and other outbuildings that may have been closed up during the winter months people should be aware of hantavirus risks and practice safe rodent cleanup,” said Courtney Tillman, infectious disease epidemiologist with WDH.

“People can catch hantavirus through the droppings, urine or saliva of infected mice,” Tillman said. “People breathe in the virus when dust is stirred up, making cleaning activities such as sweeping and vacuuming particularly risky where there are signs of mice. It’s important to know how to clean up rodent-infested areas to avoid exposure to hantavirus.”

Hantavirus can cause symptoms including tiredness, fever, muscle pain, diarrhea and coughing. Anyone with these symptoms after a potential rodent exposure should contact a healthcare provider quickly. While there is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection, those infected receive supportive care such as hydration and other symptom treatment. Experts estimate about 38 percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms will die from the infection.

To safely clean areas where rodents may have been, follow these steps:

Ventilate: Open doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before starting to clean.
Do not sweep or vacuum: Avoid sweeping and vacuuming, as this can stir up virus particles.
Wear protective gear: Use rubber or plastic gloves and, if possible, a well-fitting N95 respirator.
Disinfect: Spray droppings and contaminated areas with a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) or a household disinfectant. Let it soak for five minutes.
Wipe up: Use paper towels to pick up droppings and throw away in a sealed plastic bag.
Clean and disinfect: Clean and disinfect all surfaces again after removing the droppings.
Wash hands: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water when done.

For more information about hantavirus, visit https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/hantavirus/

03/07/2025

Whooping Cough Continues Wyoming Spread

Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) officials are concerned with the continued active, current spread of pertussis (whooping cough) across the state.

Clay Van Houten, infectious disease epidemiology unit manager with WDH, said there have been 30 confirmed pertussis cases in Wyoming so far this year. “While roughly two-thirds of the reported cases have been among Sheridan County residents, pertussis has also been identified in eight other counties to date,” Van Houten said.

Van Houten noted there were 19 reported Wyoming cases in 2024, 0 in 2023 and 2 in 2022. “The sharp increase in reports we started seeing in late 2024, which has continued through this year’s early months, is significant and is concerning,” Van Houten said.

Actual case numbers are likely higher because many illnesses are not recognized as pertussis and others may not be reported. Pertussis typically begins with cold-like symptoms and perhaps a mild cough. Pertussis is often not suspected or diagnosed until a persistent cough with spasms sets in after one to two weeks. Infants and children can cough violently and rapidly with a loud "whooping" sound.

Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH, said “More than half of infants less than 1 year of age who become ill with pertussis need to be hospitalized and we know, in some cases, it can be deadly for these babies. Infants are simply more vulnerable and don’t yet have the protection pertussis vaccines offer.”

Harrist said the Tdap adolescent/adult pertussis booster vaccine is especially important for those spending time with new infants such as parents, grandparents and other people who take care of them. “Also, if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about a Tdap vaccine because that can also help protect newborns,” she said.

Harrist recommends in general all residents stay up to date with pertussis vaccines as those who still become ill with pertussis after vaccination are less likely to have a severe experience. “In addition, people should consider seeing a medical professional for antibiotics if they have symptoms consistent with pertussis,” she said.

More information about pertussis can be found online at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/pertussis/.

03/04/2025

MMR Booster Information for adults or those who are unsure of their vaccine status

Dear County Health Officers and County Nurse Managers,

With the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is starting to get questions from adults about whether they need booster doses or measles titers. The following information is WDH’s recommendations for these situations. Please note that these are recommendations for the general public and that healthcare personnel may still need titers or additional doses of MMR per their employer’s protocol.
The following adults are considered to have immunity against measles:
Adults who are not at higher risk (see below) who have written documentation that they have received at least one dose of a live measles-containing vaccine on or after their first birthday
Adults at higher risk (students at post-high school educational institutions, healthcare personnel, international travelers) who have written documentation that they have received at least two doses of a live measles-containing vaccine, separated by at least 28 days, with the first dose having been received on or after their first birthday
Adults with laboratory evidence of immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease
Adults born prior to 1957
Please note that this applies to adults who have received LIVE vaccine. People who were vaccinated prior to 1968 with either inactivated (killed) measles vaccine or measles vaccine of unknown type should be revaccinated with at least one dose of live attenuated measles vaccine. This recommendation is intended to protect those who may have received killed measles vaccine, which was available in 1963-1967 and was not effective. Any doses administered in 1968 or later can be considered live vaccine doses.
Persons born before 1957 are presumed to be immune, but the ACIP states that these individuals can opt to receive one or two doses of MMR vaccine (spaced at least 28 days apart) if they wish to do so, as long as they have no contraindications.
Probably the most likely scenario we will run into is that adults will not have or be able to obtain written documentation of vaccination, disease, or immunity. There is no contraindication to administering additional doses of MMR vaccine to those who may have been previously vaccinated or who previously had infection.
The following are WDH’s recommendations for adults seeking information on whether they need titers checked or additional MMR vaccination:
If adults have evidence of immunity as defined above, they are immune and do not need titers checked or additional doses of MMR vaccine.
If an adult with a history of one MMR vaccine is moving from a lower risk category to a higher risk category (such as planning international travel), they should receive a second dose of MMR vaccine as long as it has been at least 28 days since their first dose
If an adult born before 1957 chooses to receive additional doses of MMR vaccine, they can be offered one or two doses of MMR (spaced at least 28 days apart) if there are no contraindications
If an adult has documentation of measles-containing vaccine prior to 1968 and the vaccine administered was either inactivated or of unknown type, they should be offered one or two doses of MMR vaccine depending on risk category or desire of the patient
If an adult does not have documentation of immunity as defined above, they should be offered one or two doses of MMR vaccine depending on risk category or desire of the patient
Adults in the last three categories may ask about having titers checked before receiving vaccine. While this is acceptable, it requires a blood draw and a delay before receiving vaccine if they are not immune. We recommend that adults in the latter three categories be offered MMR vaccine as the preferred option. That way, there is no delay and they do not have to come back if they are not immune. There is no contraindiction to receiving MMR even if an adult is already immune. If adults would prefer to have titers checked prior to receiving vaccine, titers can be sent to the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory (WPHL) by ordering through the Laboratory Web Portal. WPHL charges $6.00 for a measles titer and $24.00 for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella titers.
Additional guidance from the ACIP and CDC can be found at the following links:

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6204a1.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html\

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