90-Second Read: Choctaw Nation Public Health Advisory: Hantavirus Risk Remains Low in Choctaw Nation

Choctaw Nation health officials say local Hantavirus risk remains low while sharing symptoms, prevention tips, and safety guidance. CNPH will continue monitoring the situation to help ensure the risk to public health remains minimal. Again, the risk of Hantavirus remains low within both the Choctaw Nation Reservation and the United States.

Hantavirus refers to a family of viruses most commonly spread through exposure to rodents, particularly contact with rodent droppings, saliva, or urine. Symptoms of Hantavirus may include headache, dizziness, chills, fever, body aches, and gastrointestinal issues. Between 1993 and 2023, 890 cases of Hantavirus were reported in the United States.

As CNPH continues to monitor the outbreak, we will inform the public if any increased risk to Choctaw Nation communities is identified. The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States with more than 230,000 tribal members and over 13,000 associates. Severe complications may include Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a serious respiratory disease that can affect the lungs and other organ systems.