Where does hantavirus lurk in the U.S.? Scientists found ‘hot spots’ in surprising areas
Hantavirus, primarily spread by rodents like the deer mouse, exists in the U.S. and can cause a severe respiratory illness with a high fatality rate. Recent research has identified Virginia, Colorado, and Texas as emerging hot spots for hantavirus-carrying rodents, despite low human case numbers in some of these areas. While the virus does not typically spread from person to person, scientists are studying it as a potential zoonotic threat to prevent future outbreaks.
- ▪Hantavirus is transmitted to humans through airborne particles from infected rodent urine, saliva, or feces.
- ▪Scientists at Virginia Tech identified Virginia, Colorado, and Texas as hot spots for hantavirus-carrying rodents based on blood sample testing from 2014 to 2019.
- ▪The CDC reports 890 hantavirus cases in the U.S. since 1993, with the majority in Western states and a fatality rate of approximately 35%.
- ▪Virginia has reported only two human cases of hantavirus despite being identified as a rodent infection hot spot.
- ▪The Sin Nombre virus is the primary hantavirus strain in the U.S., while the Andes strain, which can spread between people, has not been found in North America.
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Health newsWhere does hantavirus lurk in the U.S.? Scientists found ‘hot spots’ in surprising areasRodents that carry hantavirus are found across the U.S.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Hantavirus is carried by various rodents, especially the deer mouse. The strains of hantavirus in the U.S. don't spread from person to person.Natasha Sioss / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 17, 2026, 6:30 AM EDTBy Erika EdwardsA recent suspected hantavirus case in Illinois is a stark reminder that the potentially deadly virus does exist in the U.S.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.There are currently no cases of hantavirus in the U.S. that are linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak.
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