Two out of 11 rodents collected in late December from the San Timoteo Canyon at the Norton Younglove Reserve near the city of Beaumont have tested positive for hantavirus. The California Department of Public Health confirmed that the mice Riverside County Environmental Health officials submitted have tested positive for the virus. 

Over the past decade, about 10 percent of the rodents collected in Riverside County have tested positive for hantavirus. This is fairly consistent with the average for California. 

To date, no documented human cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome have originated within Riverside County.

Inhaling tiny droplets contaminated by deer-mouse droppings and urine is how hantavirus is transmitted. 

“Infected rodents do not appear to show any signs of illness so it is important to keep from stirring-up materials while cleaning up any mouse-infested areas in and around homes, especially in rural areas,” according to a Riverside County Department of Environmental Health press release.

“Hantavirus can be a serious, even deadly disease when infectious material like mouse droppings and urine are inhaled,” Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer, said in a press release. “Taking simple precautions can greatly reduce your risk.” These are precautions recommended:

• Ventilate the affected area for several hours before cleanup by opening doors and windows. 

• Use rubber gloves. 

• Apply a 10 percent solution of bleach or household disinfectant to contaminated surfaces and allow at least 15 minutes’ contact time before removal. 

• Clean the affected area with a sponge or mop. Do not sweep or vacuum. 

• Double-bag any dead rodents and cleanup materials (newspaper, paper towels, etc.) securely in plastic bags and seal. 

• Before removing gloves, wash gloved hands in disinfectant or with soap and water. Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water after removing gloves. Dispose of gloves and cleanup materials with other household waste. 

For more information, call the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health office in Hemet at 951-766-9454. Information also is available on the department website at www.rivcoeh.org.

The Idyllwild Library, in partnership with Fern Creek Medical Center, is sponsoring a series of lectures about chronic health conditions. To be held at the library, the series began Tuesday, Jan. 17, with a lecture and presentation on chronic pain.

The next event in this free series is on Tuesday, March 21, with a presentation on oral health: what are the signs and symptoms of an unhealthy mouth, and how unhealthy gums can lead to other serious health issues. The presentation also will focus on how to prevent gum disease and what the treatment options are for gum disease. The presenter will be local dentist, Carol Ann Berg, D.D.S., Oakwood Dentistry.

For the balance of the series, a core group of presenters will work together to address the topic issues. They are Miles Thomas, M.S., L.Ac., owner and licensed acupuncturist and herbalist at Idyllwild Community Acupuncture; Ken Browning, D.O, medical director at Fern Creek Medical Center; Deborah Wondoloski, M.S.N, R.N, C.C.R.N and S.C.R.N., nurse practitioner at Fern Creek Medical Center; Jodi Sutherland, lifestyle educator at Fern Creek Medical Center; Barry Shapiro, R.Ph., pharmacist and owner of Idyllwild Pharmacy; Rev. Maureen McElligott, assistant minister, Hemet Center for Spiritual Living and chaplain intern at Loma Linda University Medical Center; and Monique Zander, meditation group leader and teacher.

On Tuesday, May 16, the series continues with a lecture on high blood sugar and conditions of diabetes and obesity. Three areas will be covered: why obesity is a disease of inflammation; why dieting is not the curative option; and how restorative sleep is related to obesity and diabetes.

The fourth presentation in the series takes place Tuesday, Sept. 19, and targets high blood pressure. Topics examined at the lecture include: what is the optimal blood pressure; why high blood pressure is a threatening silent killer; and what are the ways, other than conventional drugs, to control high blood pressure.

The last presentation in the series takes place Tuesday, Oct. 17, and considers chronic fatigue and its relation to a thyroid-hormone connection. The talk will address: a condition called “brain fog”; why one wakes up tired and is exhausted at the end of the day; and why certain individuals have repeated weight gain, moodiness and hot flashes.

Chronic health conditions are known as the leading cause of disability and premature death in the United States. These conditions can progress to serious levels despite the use of traditional and conventional medical therapies. Presenters at the series will discuss medical approaches that combine both traditional and integrative medicine with multidisciplinary approaches to prevent chronic conditions and reverse existing ones.

Wondoloski is the series coordinator. She noted that “The Idyllwild Community Health Survey” will be available at Idyllwild Pharmacy and at Fern Creek Medical Center. These surveys can be filled out at the events or completed and returned to the Idyllwild Library, Idyllwild Pharmacy or Fern Creek Medical Center. The anonymous health assessment survey asks what wellness practices and lifestyle approaches are desired within the Idyllwild community.

All lectures in this free series take place from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in the Idyllwild Library Community Room.

This is the first of what is planned as an annual series.

American Legion Post 800 Commander Danny Richardson said the Legion Warming Center has been open for the last four days. “I called the county and notified JP at the Town Crier who posted it online,” said Richardson. “We’ve stayed open till 8 at night if there were people here. I also notified IFPD Chief Reitz and Mountain Disaster Preparedness to help notify people that we were open and see if anyone needed transportation.

“We also made the announcement at Rotary and posted on Facebook.”

Richardson said that he and wife Terri had been there to staff the Warming Center and provide hot food. “Each day we’ve had some kind of warm dinner — chicken noodle soup, chili cheese dogs and today [Monday, Jan. 23], we’re having spaghetti.”

Richardson noted the Post will continue to activate and stay open in the evening during winter emergencies.

Bob Lewis, County Service Area 36 recreation director, said Town Hall also would continue to operate as a Warming Center during hours Town Hall is normally open, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Unofficially, although not a county-designated Warming Center, the Idyllwild Library welcomes people to stop in if in need of warmth, according to Shannon Ng, library branch manager and librarian. “During normal business hours, people are welcome to come in,” said Ng.