Tourists at Yosemite National Park exposed to deadly virus

Tourists bringing in medical masks and the padlocked 'signature tent cabins' at Curry Village signal that something is not right with the iconic Yosemite National Park.

The padlocked 'signature tent cabins' indicate that there is something to worry about at the time when a busy weekend, one of the last few of the year, gets underway.

A medical mask is not something that one would associate with the park. But it is exactly what Jil Johnson, 50, was forced to pack for herself, her eight years old son and his friend while planning for a trip to the park.

These days, signature cabins closed with padlocks greet visitors to the park. Two people have died and four others have got sick ever since the outbreak of the deadly Hantavirus in June. The park officials are on thier toes to keep out the deer mice, carriers of this deadly virus. Gaps between the cabin walls have been closed and the officials are monitoring the results of their efforts.

The virus spreads to humans when the latter come into contact with rodent waste products. Conce
ed about the health of her son, his friend and that of her own, Johnson brought medical masks and asked the two kids to not stir up dirt or dusk. She is going to be worried for next few days, she says.

Johnson's conce
s are shared by most of the recent visitors to the park. As per The Califo
ia Department of Public Health, four cases of virus infection have been traced to the cabins. Officials at the Yosmite are discussing the option of notifying visitors who stayed elsewhere in the Curry Village about the possible health hazard.

A nationwide alert has been sounded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Around 3,100 people who stayed in the cabins betwee
June 10 and August 24 have been informed. Efforts are on to contain the deadly virus and the park officials are hopeful that their efforts will bear fruit soon.