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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State health officials say a 54-year-old man from Cibola County has died of hantavirus.
The New Mexico Department of Health says it's the second case of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the state this year.
An environmental investigation will be conducted at the patient's home to help reduce the risk to others.
The name of the victim wasn't released Tuesday.
Hantavirus is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings or saliva.
People can contract the disease when they breathe in aerosolized virus.
Health officials say the deer mouse is the main carrier for the hantavirus strain found in New Mexico.
Since 1993, New Mexico has reported 103 lab-confirmed HPS cases with 43 deaths. That's the highest number of cases of any state.
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