What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus refers to a family of viruses carried mainly by rodents, including mice and rats. People can become infected when they breathe in particles from infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, especially in enclosed spaces such as sheds, cabins, barns, storage rooms, or poorly ventilated areas.

Some hantaviruses can cause serious illness, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, also called HPS. This condition can affect the lungs and may become life-threatening without urgent medical care.

Is hantavirus a pandemic?

No. Hantavirus is not currently considered a pandemic.

A pandemic usually involves sustained global spread of a disease between people. Hantavirus does not spread like COVID-19, influenza, or measles. Most hantavirus infections happen after exposure to infected rodents or contaminated rodent waste.

The main exception is Andes virus, a type of hantavirus found in parts of South America. Andes virus can rarely spread between people, usually after close and prolonged contact. Even then, it does not spread easily compared with common respiratory viruses.

How do you get hantavirus?

Most people get hantavirus by inhaling tiny airborne particles from infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. This can happen when contaminated dust is stirred up during cleaning, sweeping, construction, storage removal, or entering a closed space where rodents have nested.

Less commonly, infection may happen through a rodent bite or scratch. Touching contaminated objects and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes may also create risk.

Higher-risk places

• Old cabins
• Garages
• Barns
• Attics
• Basements
• Sheds
• Storage units
• Crawl spaces
• Areas with visible rodent droppings or nests

Hantavirus symptoms: What to watch for ?

Hantavirus symptoms can begin like the flu. Early symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.

In severe cases, symptoms can progress to coughing, shortness of breath, fluid in the lungs, low blood pressure, and respiratory failure.

Early symptoms of hantavirus

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain

Later or severe symptoms

• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Difficulty breathing
• Signs of shock or severe weakness

What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, often shortened to HPS, is a severe respiratory illness caused by certain hantaviruses. It is most associated with hantaviruses found in the Americas.

HPS can be dangerous because symptoms may start mildly and then worsen quickly. Treatment is mainly supportive, meaning doctors manage breathing, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and complications while the body fights the infection.

In Europe and Asia, hantaviruses more commonly cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, also known as HFRS, which can affect the kidneys and blood vessels.

Is hantavirus contagious?

Most hantaviruses are not contagious from person to person. People usually become infected through rodent exposure, not through casual contact with another person.

The important exception is Andes virus. Andes virus can rarely spread between people, usually through close and prolonged contact, especially in enclosed settings.

How long does hantavirus live in droppings?

The exact survival time of hantavirus in rodent droppings can vary depending on temperature, humidity, sunlight, ventilation, and surface conditions.

The safest approach is to treat all fresh or old rodent droppings, urine, nests, and contaminated dust as potentially infectious. Do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings, because this can push contaminated particles into the air.

How to prevent hantavirus?

The best way to prevent hantavirus is to avoid contact with rodents and rodent waste. Prevention focuses on rodent control, safe cleanup, and keeping rodents out of homes, cabins, and workplaces.

1. Seal holes and gaps where mice or rats can enter.
2. Store food securely in rodent-proof containers.
3. Remove clutter where rodents can hide or nest.
4. Ventilate closed spaces before cleaning.
5. Do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings.
6. Spray droppings and contaminated areas with disinfectant before removal.
7. Wear gloves and wash hands carefully after cleanup.

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Hantavirus and cruise ship outbreak concerns

Recent attention around hantavirus increased after reports of a cluster linked to cruise ship travel and Andes virus. This raised public concern because Andes virus is one of the few hantaviruses known to spread rarely between people.

However, public health agencies have stated that the broader population risk remains low. Hantavirus is serious and should be monitored, but it does not spread efficiently enough to be considered a typical pandemic virus.

FAQ: Hantavirus questions people ask !