The victim is recovering. Dr. Harvey Artsob of the Canadian Science Center for Human and Animal Health in Winnipeg, Manitoba, said all confirmed cases of the virus in Canada have been in the western provinces. Since it is spread through rodent urine, feces or saliva, people typically contract the disease in rural areas by inhaling the virus particles while cleaning out a rodent-infested space, such as a barn, cabin or stable. Young, Artsob and Colorado state epidemiologist John Pape say there is no doubt many cases go undetected because doctors are not familiar with the disease. It becomes a surveillance phenomenon, like the plague.
Physicians here think about it because they have cases nearly every year.