Disease Risk Spurs Closure of Cave at Grand Canyon

The only cave open to the public at Grand Canyon National Park is closed, for the moment, because of a serious disease risk, park officials said.

Rodent activity at Cave of the Domes, located near Horseshoe Mesa at the end of the Grandview Trail, has the park concerned about the risk of exposure to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Humans can catch the disease through contact with infected rodents or their urine, saliva, blood or droppings, the park said in a news release last week.

HPS is rare, but there have been two confirmed cases in Coconino County this year. That's just one fewer than in the past 10 years combined, the park said. The virus cannot be spread from person to person.

In addition to Cave of the Domes, old mines located near Horseshoe Mesa and throughout the park are also closed, the park said.

To avoid health risks, officials recommend avoiding camping or recreating near rodent nests or burrows and not making food or garbage easily available to rodents.