Hantavirus ruled out in Belmont backstretch worker's death

A Belmont Park backstretch worker who died on June 6 did so as the result of a bacterial infection and not the hantavirus, according to a release issued late Saturday afternoon by the New York State Department of Health.

On Friday, the Department of Health issued an advisory stating that tests were being conducted to see if the deceased - whom Daily Racing Form has identified as Julio Salazar - died as a result of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, caused by Salazar having been exposed to rodent excretions.

Hantavirus is spread in very rare cases from rodents to humans when rodent urine, saliva, and feces become aerosolized in confined spaces when disturbed, such as by sweeping or vacuuming. The Department of Health noted Friday that there had been only five confirmed cases of hantavirus in New York since 1993.

On Saturday, the Department of Health reported that confirmatory tests sent to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Salazar returned a negative result for hantavirus.

“Based on CDC findings and the Department of Health’s ongoing investigation, the probable cause of death is bacterial sepsis,” the advisory read. “Bacterial sepsis is a condition in which the infectious agent, in this case the common bacteria known as Klebsiella, has spread throughout the body. Bacterial sepsis can become life threatening if the immune system is overwhelmed.”

Salazar, who worked as a groom on the backstretch for several trainers including Gary Sciacca and, most recently, Cherie DeVaux, was found outside the housing unit on the Belmont backstretch to which he was assigned to live and was transported to a hospital. He died on June 6.

During the course of its investigation, the Department of Health examined all 78 cottages/dormitories that house backstretch workers and made several recommendations to NYRA regarding health and safety practices in living and working spaces at Belmont.

“NYRA is committed to modernizing backstretch facilities at Belmont Park to support the health and well-being of the backstretch community,” NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna said in a written statement. “NYRA will continue to address pest control measures throughout Belmont Park and will implement all of New York State’s recommendations.”