Hantavirus

Learn about hantavirus, how it spreads, how to prevent it, its symptoms, and treatment.

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Hantaviruses are a family of viruses usually found in rodents such as mice and rats. Certain types of hantaviruses can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a rare and severe illness.

Human hantavirus infection is most often acquired through direct contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. The Andes virus is a specific species of hantavirus that can be transmitted from person to person under certain circumstances.

There have been no locally acquired cases of hantavirus in Boston.

Questions? Contact us:
info@bphc.org
617-534-5395
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Boston, MA 02118

Important Updates

Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is working closely with partners to monitor the cluster of hantavirus cases linked to a Dutch-flagged cruise ship. We are not aware of any hantavirus exposures or cases in Boston, and the risk to the public remains low.

This is an evolving situation and we will continue to keep the public updated as new information emerges.

Prevention

The best way to prevent Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is to avoid contact with mice and rats and use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices on your property.

Seal all openings greater than ¼ inch to prevent rodents from entering your home.
Declutter your home to prevent harborage of rodents.
Remove trash, food sources, and dense shrubbery around your home so that rodents are less likely to create nests near your home.
Store all food and garbage in tightly sealed containers.

If you need to clean up after a rodent:

Clean all rodent urine, feces, and nesting materials with a strong disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water. Let the area soak for 5 minutes before picking up rodent waste.

Do not to sweep or vacuum the urine, feces, or nests. This will stir the virus particles making them airborne, where you can potentially breath them in.

Always wear a mask and protective gloves when cleaning materials that may contain mouse or rat urine, feces, or nesting materials.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and dispose of the gloves without touching other surfaces.

If you need to dispose of a dead rodent:

Always wear rubber or plastic gloves when handling a dead animal.
Spray the dead rodent and surrounding area with a strong disinfectant or mixture of bleach and water. You should allow the animal to soak for 5 minutes before placing it in a tightly sealed plastic bag.
Next, place the full bag into another sealed bag and throw it into a trashcan that is regularly emptied.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and dispose of the gloves without touching other surfaces.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) develop 1 to 8 weeks after exposure to a mouse or rat that carried a hantavirus or exposure to a person with Andes virus infection. HPS is characterized by flu-like symptoms (headache, chills, fever, muscle aches), and gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain), followed by the sudden onset of breathing problems and low blood pressure.

If you think you may have been exposed to a hantavirus and are experiencing flu-like symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Early diagnosis of HPS can be difficult because early symptoms are similar to other illnesses. Your doctor will ask you about your history of possible contact with hantavirus.

Treatment

To date, there is no specific treatment, cure, or vaccine for hantavirus infection.

Patients with hantavirus infection should receive supportive care, including rest, hydration, treatment of symptoms, and breathing support if necessary. Some patients with HPS may require the placement of a breathing tube and treatment in an intensive care unit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do hantaviruses spread?

Human hantavirus infection is most often acquired through direct contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. The Andes virus, the species of hantavirus identified in the current outbreak, can spread from person to person under certain circumstances.

Based on the limited existing data, it appears that people can spread the Andes virus only while they have symptoms. Based on prior outbreaks, we do not believe that Andes virus can spread easily through brief interactions such as sharing a public restroom.

We are still learning about how transmission occurred during the current outbreak.

Who is at risk?

Anyone who comes into contact with rodent urine or feces containing hantavirus is at risk of developing Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), including people who are otherwise very healthy. Some activities will increase the risk of exposure, such as:

Cleaning out garages, storage facilities, homes, or barns that may have housed mice or rats

Working in construction, utility, or pest control jobs

Hiking and camping in areas where mice or rats may live

Individuals who have had close contact with a person with Andes virus may also be at risk, such as:

Household or family members of an individual with Andes virus infection

Healthcare workers who have provided care for a person with Andes virus infection

How common is hantavirus in Boston?

There has never been a locally acquired case of hantavirus in Boston.

Hantavirus infections in humans are rare. From 1993 to 2023, there were 890 cases of hantavirus disease in the United States, with most cases in New Mexico, Colorado, and other areas of the Western and Southwestern United States.

Infections with Andes virus occur primarily in Argentina and Chile, and cases have occurred in US residents who have traveled to those areas. Even within South America, hantavirus infections are rare, and there is currently no recommendation to limit travel to or from South America.