Spread of Deadly Virus Because of Forest Decline

In 2004 many aspen in the west started dying. Scientists thought it was because of the drought and heat wave in 2002. At first it was just destroying the land now it is spreading a new strain of hantavirus that is deadly to humans. It is called Sin Nombre Virus, the Spanish word for nameless virus. This disease is carried by deer mice mostly in sudden aspen dying areas. You can get infected by inhaling dust mixed with mouse urine, droppings, or saliva. If inhaled you can develop hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The virus has a 40% fatality rate, but infections are rare with 20-40 annual cases in the United States. Infections remain mostly concentrated in the Southwest where sudden aspen die-back is common. The die-back is slowed down because of cooler wetter years, but aspens are vulnerable to sudden climate shifts. The die-backs are expected to be more common since the climate is starting to change. The spread of hantavirus through mice should be considered an "unintended consequence of climate change". Dr.Lehmer said, "Climate change is brining new diseases because we are disrupting plants and animals ecosystems. Spread of Deadly Virus Because of Forest Decline

I think this proves we need to be more careful about the environment. If we don't this kind of thing will become more and more common.