Hantavirus suspected in Reno man's death

Hantavirus is spread by exposure to deer mice urine and droppings.

The man's name was not released, but authorities on Wednesday confirmed he had been a Washoe County jail inmate and participated in the sheriff's community work program.

Sheriff's Sgt. Bob Towery said the man completed his sentence before checking into the hospital. The man died last weekend.

Towery added that there is nothing to indicate he may have contracted the disease while on an inmate crew.

"We did examine his participation in the program to see where he was assigned and what he was doing," Towery said. "But there's nothing to indicate that he contracted any tope of disease they could have resulted in his death while serving on any of his work crews on any of his assignments."

Seven people have been infected with hantavirus in Nevada since 1993. Two people died.

The disease begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses to difficulty breathing as capillaries leak and lungs fill with fluid. The buildup of fluid can cause breathing to stop.

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