- Hantaviruses are serious diseases that can infect people worldwide, primarily transmitted through contact with rodent urine, droppings, and saliva, with bites or scratches being rare, according to the CDC.
- Two main syndromes are caused by hantaviruses: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in the Western Hemisphere, often spread by deer mice, and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) mostly in Europe and Asia.
- The Seoul virus, a type of hantavirus causing HFRS, is found globally, including in the United States, despite HFRS being more common in other regions.
- Late symptoms of HPS, appearing 4 to 10 days after initial illness, include coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness as the lungs fill with fluid.
- HPS is a potentially fatal disease, with a mortality rate of 38% among individuals who develop respiratory symptoms.