What is hantavirus and how is it transmitted to humans?

Last updated: May 6, 2026

Hantavirus is a dangerous virus carried by infected rodents, particularly deer mice, that spreads to humans through contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. People typically get infected by breathing in dust containing the virus or by touching contaminated materials.

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Primary carriers	Deer mice, white-footed mice, rice rats, and cotton rats
Main transmission method	Inhaling aerosolized virus from rodent droppings or urine
Disease name	Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
Fatality rate	Approximately 38 percent of confirmed cases
Human-to-human transmission	Very rare, does not typically spread between people
Symptoms onset	Usually appear 1 to 8 weeks after exposure

What is Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a serious virus that belongs to a family of viruses called bunyaviruses. The virus naturally lives in certain species of rodents around the world. Infected rodents can carry the virus for their entire lives without showing any signs of illness. The virus was first identified in 1993 during an outbreak in the southwestern United States.

How Humans Get Infected

Humans become infected with hantavirus mainly by breathing in virus particles that are released into the air from infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. This can happen when someone sweeps or disturbs dried rodent droppings, works in contaminated buildings like sheds or cabins, or handles rodents without protection. The virus can also enter through broken skin or mucous membranes if a person touches contaminated material and then touches their face.

Symptoms and Illness

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome begins with flu-like symptoms including fever, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue. After several days, infected people develop shortness of breath and coughing. The illness can quickly progress to severe lung problems and low blood pressure. Medical treatment focuses on respiratory support and managing complications, as there is no specific cure for hantavirus infection.

Prevention

The best way to prevent hantavirus infection is to avoid contact with rodents and their droppings. This includes sealing holes in buildings, storing food in rodent-proof containers, and trapping mice and rats. When cleaning areas with possible rodent contamination, wear gloves and a mask to avoid breathing in virus particles. It is important not to sweep or vacuum contaminated areas, as this spreads the virus into the air.

Geographic Distribution

Hantavirus is found throughout North and South America. Different rodent species carry different strains of the virus in different regions. Sin Nombre virus, found in the western United States, is the most common strain in North America. Other countries have their own hantavirus strains carried by local rodent populations.

Sources

cdc.gov (cdc.gov)
who.int (who.int)
nih.gov (nih.gov)