PEEC News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) will host “Hantaviruses: From New Mexico’s Four Corners to the World”, 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 in the Planetarium at the Los Alamos Nature Center, 2600 Canyon Road.
The program is free and offered in‑person and virtually to help the public better understand these viruses, how they spread, and how to stay safe.
Register at peecnature.org/events.
New Mexico holds a unique place in hantavirus history. The first hantavirus recognized in North America, Sin Nombre virus, was identified in the Four Corners region in the 1990s. Carried by the native deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), Sin Nombre virus can cause a severe and often fatal disease for which no specific treatment exists.
Infection occurs when people inhale virus‑containing particles from rodent urine or droppings, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
This talk will break down what hantaviruses are, how transmission happens, and practical steps for safely approaching and cleaning areas where deer mice may be present. Attendees will also learn what symptoms to watch for after potential exposure.
The program concludes with a compelling real‑world case study: the recent discovery of a new hantavirus species in Paraguay following the accidental infection of members of a UNM paleontology field crew — a story that underscores the importance of rapid identification and continued research.
About the Presenter
Lizzie Clarke is a virologist and immunologist at the University of New Mexico. Originally from the Northwest of England, she moved to New Mexico 12 years ago for graduate school and quickly fell in love with the state. During her PhD in emerging viruses, Clarke worked on efforts to capture and isolate hantavirus from rodents across New Mexico, sparking her deep interest in hantavirus epidemiology, transmission, and public health. When she’s not in the lab or field, she enjoys hiking and birding throughout the Southwest.
For more information, visit PEEC’s website at peecnature.org/events. Stay connected on social media for updates on each week’s activities.