John,
It is a nasty little disease. Fairly high mortality rate, once contracted
I think there have been about 30 or so deaths in New Mexico over the last 25 years or so.

When I worked at White Sands Missile Range (in the middle of nowhere), there was an ongoing PR campaign
about Hantavirus. And a lot of funds were expended to combat potential breeding grounds.

I know Bubonic Plague is pretty much confined to the northern part of the state, but Hantavirus has been
identified in the south, as well as the north.

Mike