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By CINDY MAHAN
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
In a study which began last June, a hantavirus task force from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta has trapped 112 rodents in the Shenandoah National Park to be tested for evidence of the hantavirus.
According to Park Entomologist and acting leader for the Center for Resources at the park, Keith Watson, 31 rodents were trapped in the Rappahannock portion of the park. So far, 20 of those have been tested, and three tested positive for having antibodies to the hantavirus. Test results are not available yet for the remaining 11 trapped rodents.
When asked if three out of 20 was considered a high percentage, Mr. Watson responded, “We have no idea of what the normal distribution is in the normal population.”
Of the 20 rodents which have been trapped and tested so far, Mr. Watson knew the location where two were trapped. One was at the Matthews Arm Campground and the other was in the Bird’s Nest #4 shelter, which is about 1/4 mile from Skyline Drive in the northern end of Rappahannock County. It is not known, however, if these were rodents which tested positive for the hantavirus.
The rest of the 112 rodents trapped in the park were trapped in Warren and Madison counties.
The trapping and testing program was
91.6%