By KRWG News
Albuquerque – New Mexico health officials say a 51-year-old McKinley County woman is hospitalized in critical condition in Albuquerque with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
The state Department of Health said Monday an investigation will be done to determine where she might have been exposed to the virus.
It's the second hantavirus case this year. The first was confirmed last week in a man who also comes from McKinley County.
The Health Department's public health veterinarian, Dr. Paul Ettestad, says hantavirus cases are not as common in the winter as they are in the spring and summer.
Hantavirus is contracted by breathing particles of rodent droppings, urine or saliva. Early symptoms include fever and muscle aches, a headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and a cough.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.