For Hantavirus Survivors, Yosemite a Painful Reminder

She said she now suffers from fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and "weird immune system reactions," which she explains as her body overreacting as if there is a constant hantavirus threat.

Nutma's mother called her this month from Holland after hearing about the Yosemite outbreak on the news, so she read about it herself.

She said an unpleasant feeling hit her right in the stomach, and she had the same mix of emotions she felt in 2007 -- uncertainty and a sense of "losing all grip." She said she was overwhelmed by the idea of going through chills, back pain and a fever and not knowing that four weeks later, she would be in an ICU on a ventilator fighting for her life.

"I felt how unpredictable and dangerous this illness is and what fear people may feel being exposed to this virus," she said.

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Like many survivors, she wanted to emphasize increasing hantavirus awareness among doctors. In light of the Yosemite outbreak, McConnell's group of survivors have started a Tumblr page, which includes news articles and updates from government health departments.

Health officials have already emailed 3,000 people who camped at Yosemite's now-closed signature cabins from June through August, urging them to keep an eye out for symptoms, seek medical attention early, and let doctors know about their hantavirus risk. The number of people at risk is reported to be 10,000.

"The Facebook survivors are keen on getting education and awareness out into the public so appropriate cleaning methods are utilized," McConnell said. "Survivors don't want anyone else to go through what they experienced, or perhaps lose a life."