90-Second Read: First Hantavirus death reported in Arizona in 2026

A person in Mohave County is the first confirmed death from Hantavirus in Arizona this year. Arizona has recorded no more than 13 confirmed Hantavirus cases in a single year since 2006, according to the most recent data from the Arizona Department of Health Services. While rare, it can be deadly, with the CDC reporting that 1/3 of Hantavirus cases in Arizona from 2003 to 2023 ended in death.

Health officials don't yet know how the patient contracted the virus, and local transmission cannot be ruled out. But they say the death was caused by the Sin Nombre Hantavirus, which is a different strain than the one found on the cruise ship outbreak that garnered national attention. The Sin Nombre Hantavirus is not passed from person to person, but rather from infected rodents that leave saliva or other body matter in sheds, other structures, or open areas.

Harkins said the reported case in Mohave County is not the start of a new pandemic. Symptoms of Hantavirus include fever, chills, body aches and stomach problems. It's not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to reflect and think of how to rodent-proof your home.