People get get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva. It can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent, but this is rare.
Hantaviruses cause two syndromes. Hantaviruses found in the Western Hemisphere, including here in the U.S., can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The most common hantavirus that causes HPS in the U.S. is spread by the deer mouse.
Transmission
Each hantavirus has one primary rodent that carries the disease. The most common hantavirus that causes HPS in the U.S. is spread by the deer mouse.
People can contract hantavirus if they have contact with urine, feces or saliva of a rodent carrying the virus. This can occur when people:
- Breathe in hantavirus-contaminated air when cleaning up after rodents
- Touch contaminated objects and then touch their nose or mouth
- Are bitten or scratched by an infected rodent
- Eat food contaminated with hantavirus
Cases normally occur in rural areas where forests, fields, and farms offer habitats for rodents. The animals can get into homes and barns, where they may leave urine or feces.
Symptoms
The incubation period ranges from 1-3 weeks, and initial symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and feeling tired. After about 4-10 days, people with HPS develop a cough and shortness of breath.
It is important to seek treatment quickly if HPS infection is suspected.
Rodents
Rodents are know to spread as many as 35 different diseases to humans worldwide.
Rodents in the Wild
Wild rodents can cause home damage, contaminate food, and cause illness in people and pets.
Rodent infestations are more likely to occur when events such as flooding displace them.
To avoid rodent infestation remove potential rodent food and water sources, and store food for people and pets in sealed containers.
Clear debris and other material that rodents can hide in.
Safely clean-up rodent droppings, urine and nesting areas, always wearing gloves and spraying material with disinfectant until thoroughly soaked before attempting to remove or clean.
Rodents as Pets
Purchase your pet rodent from a reputable vendor who has an active health monitoring program, and select animals that have good body weight and hair coat and no obvious signs of illness.
Rodents are not ideal pets for young children as they do not reliably wash their hands and often have more severe illness if exposed to zoonotic infections (diseases that spread from animals to people) from their pets. Due to their small size, rodents are also easily injured, and small children may accidentally cause serious injuries to the animal and possibly be bitten.
If you do purchase a pet rodent, take your new pet to your veterinarian for a health assessment and follow that with regular check-ups. Always remember to thoroughly wash your hands after handling rodents or their cages/bedding, clean your pet’s cage regularly and in a well-aerated area, avoid contact between your pet and wild rodents, and do not kiss or hold pet rodents close to your face.
Young children should not handle rodents, and pregnant woman should avoid contact or being in confined spaces with rodents.
Rodent Diseases or Zoonoses
Angiostrongylus/Rat Lungworm is a parasitic worm of rats that is present in some parts of the U.S. including Florida. Infected rats produce the parasite in their feces and can infect slugs and snails that eat rat feces. The parasite cycle is continued when another rat then eats an infected slug or snail.
Uncommon infections in people can occur when they eat raw or undercooked infected snails or slugs. Infections in people may not cause any illness or may cause a mild illness with muscle aches and non-specific symptoms that resolves within a few days. Less commonly, infections can result in meningitis.
Hantavirus is present in rodents throughout the U.S., and has been identified in cotton rats in Florida. Most human cases of hantavirus have been occurred in the western U.S., although cases have also occurred in the east. Hantavirus infection occurs when you breathe in virus-containing particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva that are stirred into the air. It is important to insure good ventilation and to avoid actions that raise dust when working in areas where rodents have been; activities to be avoided include sweeping or vacuuming.
Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria carried by many different kinds of animals, including cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, raccoons, and other wild animals. People can become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from an infected animal. Contact with contaminated material and cuts or breaks in the skin can also result in infection.
Flooding events (contaminated water) have been associated with multiple cases of illness in other countries, but has only rarely been seen in the U.S. Many infected people experience mild or no illness while for others the disease can be severe or life-threatening.
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis is a viral infection that can be found in wild rodents, primarily the common house mouse. Infection in commercially obtained pet rodents from reputable dealers is unusual; however pet rodents can become infected by exposure to wild mice. People can become infected after exposure to urine, droppings, saliva, or bedding of infected rodents.
The virus can be transmitted from pregnant women to their fetus and can cause fetal death as well as severe birth defects while the mother experiences very mild or no signs of illness. Pregnant women should not handle rodents and should avoid being in the same room as rodents or being in an area where rodent contaminated materials are being cleaned.
Rabies is extremely uncommon in small rodents such as mice, rats, and squirrels. Cases are occasionally seen in larger rodents, particularly woodchucks (not present in Florida).
To prevent exposure to rabies, avoid direct contact with wildlife and vaccinate dogs, cats, ferrets, and livestock. If you are bitten by a rodent or any other animal, seek medical attention from your health care provider.
Rat Bite Fever is caused by bacteria that is common in the upper respiratory tracts and mouths of healthy appearing rodents, especially rats. People are infected most commonly through bites or scratches, and may also become ill after eating food or drink contaminated with rodent droppings or through close contact with rodents.
Salmonellosis is an infection with Salmonella bacteria. It is most commonly associated with insufficient hygiene or inadequately cooked food, but can also be acquired from animals. Salmonella bacteria may be found in the feces of many animals, including pets.
Reptiles (turtles, snakes, lizards, etc.) and birds commonly carry Salmonella without signs of illness.