The Heartland Health Region confirmed Saskatchewan's second death from hantavirus this year, but Humboldt isn't off the hook.
In fact, it's much more likely people in rural Saskatchewan would come into contact with the disease, which is transmitted by deer mice, than city dwellers.
"It's rare but people can certainly become exposed to it where there's an infestation of deer mice," Julie Kryzanowski, a deputy medical health officer with Saskatoon Health Region, said.
There are various strains of hantavirus but the Sin Nombre virus is the one caused by deer mice and the only one Canadian residents need to be cautious of.
And cottage-owners and farmers take note: deer mice are common to cabins, barns, sheds and cottages, so be aware if you're cleaning out the cottage after a long winter or fetching the canoe out of the shed that hasn't been touched since Labour Day weekend.
Although it's not inherent that all deer mice carry the disease, they can and people become infected after exposure to contaminated airborne particles from the droppings, urine and saliva of infected rodents.
People can differentiate deer mice from the common field mouse by their white bellies and larger eyes and ears.
The good news is that most people who contract the disease are asymptomatic, however Kryzanowski advises that trouble breathing, coughing and wheezing are all symptoms of hantavirus at its worst, causing a respiratory infection called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is severe and if left untreated, can be rapidly fatal.
Athletic, young individuals with a clean bill of health should also be aware of the disease, said Kryzanowski, noting that it can affect anyone, no matter their health condition.
Another disease Saskatchewan residents should watch out for this summer is West Nile virus (WNV), the mosquito-borne arbovirus that spread into the United States and Canada in the early 2000s, causing so many deaths in the former that it has now reached epidemic status alongside Africa and Australia, just to name a few.
However, like hantavirus, the majority of people (about 80 per cent) who become infected with WNV will not have symptoms; the remaining 20 per cent will experience an illness reminiscent of the flu, with symptoms ranging from aches and chills to nausea and diarrhea. In rare cases, the virus can cause severe, debilitating headaches, muscle weakness and even paralysis, Kryzanowski said.
Of course, that's not common but given the hot, dry summer the city has been experiencing so far, Kryzanowski cautions this is ideal weather for the Culex tarsalis mosquito's breeding habits.
There is a disease, however, that people in Saskatchewan need not fret about and that's Lyme disease.
Many people associate this ailment with ticks, an insect commonly seen in the bushes and fields of our province, even on our skin.
But Kryzanowski assures that the ticks in Saskatchewan are just wood and dog ticks; they're annoying but won't give you Lyme disease.
"We don't have a reproducing population of deer ticks in Saskatchewan," she said, adding that although we may get one from time to time because of the province's abundance of migratory birds, they're sporadic and don't reproduce to last through the winter.
So, in short, don't even worry about Lyme disease in these parts of the country.
As for hantavirus and WNV, Kryzanowski has a few pointers.
For the former, before cleaning out the cottage or cabin, ventilate it by opening doors and windows for half an hour before heading inside. This allows time for the virus to be aired out.
Don't use a broom when cleaning up because it can kick up dust, droppings and other particles which could carry the virus; instead, use a damp cloth and mops, something that will keep any loose particles at bay.
Of course, the first line of defence should be to prevent an infestation of rodents in the first place, so block any openings and cracks to the structure.
For WNV, and hantavirus too in fact, keep your yard clean by storing wood piles above ground and away from the house, barn or cabin, keep brushes and shrubbery trimmed, eliminate tall grass and avoid having standing water on your property, as this serves as an alluring breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Even spare tires should be kept at a distance, or not on the property at all, since water from rainfall can collect in them, attracting the pesky little insects.
