Hantavirus is rare, but it can be serious. It spreads mainly through infected rodents. The most common hantavirus infection in the U.S. can cause a severe lung illness called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Another and rarer type of hantavirus infection can cause an illness that can also affect your kidneys called hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
Most people are not at high risk. But you should take symptoms seriously if you recently cleaned or spent time in an area with signs of rodents, such as mouse droppings, urine, nests or dead mice. Hantavirus symptoms can start like the flu and may get worse quickly if breathing problems develop.
If you have trouble breathing, chest tightness or severe weakness after possible rodent exposure, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents. In the U.S., the Sin Nombre hantavirus (SNV) can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). This is a rare but serious illness that can affect the lungs and make it hard to breathe. The Seoul hantavirus (SEOV) can also affect the lungs but can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome that affects the kidneys.
People can get hantavirus when they breathe in dust that contains virus particles from infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva. This can happen when cleaning or disturbing enclosed spaces where rodents have been living.
Hantavirus is not common, but it can be life-threatening. Early medical care is important because symptoms can worsen quickly once breathing problems begin.
Seek emergency care right away if you have possible hantavirus symptoms after contact with rodents, rodent droppings or spaces where rodents may have been present.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
Tell the care team about any possible rodent exposure. This may include cleaning a cabin, shed, garage, barn, storage room, camper, crawl space or other area where mice or rats may have been present.
Hantavirus symptoms may appear days or weeks after exposure. Early symptoms often feel like the flu. Later symptoms can affect breathing and may become severe.
Early hantavirus symptoms may include:
Later hantavirus symptoms may include:
Breathing symptoms are a warning sign. If you develop shortness of breath or trouble breathing after possible rodent exposure, seek emergency care right away.
Hantavirus usually spreads when people breathe in dust contaminated with urine, droppings or saliva from infected rodents. The virus can become airborne when droppings, nests or dust are stirred up during cleaning or moving items.
Hantavirus may spread through:
Hantavirus does not usually spread from person to person. Most cases are linked to rodent exposure. A rare hantavirus (Andes) can spread from person to person, but this virus is not found in the U.S.
Hantavirus does not usually spread through:
Anyone can get hantavirus if they are exposed to infected rodents or contaminated dust. Risk is higher when people enter or clean spaces where rodents have been active, especially if the space has been closed for a long time.
You may have a higher risk if you:
Seeing mouse droppings does not mean you will get hantavirus. But if you develop symptoms after possible exposure, tell your health care provider where and when the exposure happened.
If you were around rodent droppings, urine, nests or dead rodents, monitor your health. Hantavirus symptoms may not appear right away.
Call a health care provider if you develop fever, chills, muscle aches, stomach symptoms or fatigue after possible rodent exposure.
Seek emergency care right away if you develop:
While monitoring symptoms:
Hantavirus can be hard to diagnose early because symptoms may look like the flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, food poisoning or other infections. Your care team will ask about your symptoms and whether you may have been around rodents, rodent droppings or enclosed spaces with rodent activity.
Diagnosis may include:
Your care team may ask:
These details can help your care team decide what testing and treatment you may need.
There is no specific cure for hantavirus infection. Treatment focuses on supportive care, especially breathing and heart support if symptoms become severe.
Early care is important because hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can worsen quickly. People with severe illness often need care in a hospital or intensive care unit.
Treatment may include:
The sooner serious symptoms are recognized, the sooner care teams can support breathing, blood pressure and other body functions.
The best way to prevent hantavirus is to avoid contact with wild rodents and clean rodent-contaminated areas safely.
Do not sweep or vacuum dry rodent droppings, urine or nesting materials. This can stir contaminated dust into the air.
How to clean mouse droppings safely
Before cleaning:
For heavy infestations, consider contacting a pest control or professional cleaning service.
How to keep rodents out
You can also lower your risk by keeping rodents away from your home, cabin, garage or storage areas.
Steps include:
Most hantavirus infections are linked to rodent exposure, not travel alone. Risk may be higher if you camp, hike, stay in a cabin or visit rural areas where rodents may be present.
Before staying in a cabin, camper or campsite:
If you recently traveled and develop flu-like symptoms or breathing problems, tell your care team where you went and whether you may have been exposed to rodents.
Many illnesses can cause fever, body aches, stomach symptoms and fatigue. Hantavirus is rare, and similar symptoms are often caused by more common conditions.
Conditions that may look like hantavirus include:
A medical evaluation is the only way to know what is causing your symptoms.
Banner Health provides coordinated care for infectious diseases, including symptom evaluation, diagnostic testing guidance, emergency care when needed and connection to specialists.
If hantavirus or another serious infection is suspected, our teams can help coordinate the right level of care based on your symptoms, exposure history and health needs.
Our care teams focus on:
For severe breathing problems, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Hantavirus is a family of viruses spread mainly by infected rodents. In the U.S., Sin Nombre hantavirus is the most common and causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a serious illness that affects the lungs. A rarer hantavirus in the U.S. (Seoul hantavirus) can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome which can affect the kidneys.
Early symptoms may include fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. These symptoms can feel like the flu.
Symptoms may appear days or weeks after exposure. Many people become sick within a few weeks after contact with infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva.
People usually get hantavirus by breathing in dust contaminated with urine, droppings or saliva from infected rodents. This can happen when cleaning or disturbing areas with mouse droppings or nests.
The hantaviruses found in the U.S. do not spread from person to person. Most infections are linked to contact with infected rodents or contaminated dust. The Andes hantavirus can rarely spread from person to person, but this virus is not found in the U.S.
Yes, it is possible. Cleaning mouse droppings can stir contaminated dust into the air. Wet the area with disinfectant before cleaning and do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings.
There is no specific cure for hantavirus infection. Treatment focuses on supportive care, such as oxygen, careful fluids, monitoring and intensive care if breathing problems develop.
Go to the ER right away if you have trouble breathing, chest tightness, severe weakness, confusion, fainting or worsening symptoms after possible rodent exposure.
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