What is Hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can multiple types of severe illnesses.  People are exposed to hantavirus by being in contact with rodents such as mice and rats.  When materials with rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials get disturbed the virus can become airborne.  We can be infected when we breath the virus in.

Hantavirus is uncommon, but cases do happen.  Nearly 900 cases have been identified in the US over the last 25 years including 12 cases in Iowa.

Illnesses caused by hantavirus cause fatigue, fever, muscle aches, coughing and shortness of breath.  Unfortunately, people can die from hantavirus infections.

Hantaviruses are not normally spread from person to person.  However, one virus called Andes virus has been shown to spread from person to person in a limited way.  Close contact with a sick person is normally needed to spread it to another person.  The rodents that carry the Andes virus are not found in the United States.

Make efforts to keep rodents out of your homes and spaces where you work.  If you must clean up areas where rodents have been, use personal protection such face masks, gloves, and eye protection to keep from becoming infected.

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