90-Second Read: Should You Be Worried About Hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that come from contact with rodents, like rats or mice. The Andes virus, the one that is being talked about currently, is the only type of Hantavirus known to spread from person to person. Is there a risk this Hantavirus outbreak turns into another global pandemic?

There are different types of Hantaviruses, and for the most part the disease can only spread from exposure to rodents. The Andes virus is the only type of Hantavirus that can spread from person-to-person, and the rodents that carry the Andes virus have not been found in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Though only 890 cases were reported in America between 1993 and 2023, it is estimated there are between 10,000 and 100,000 cases each year globally, with most infections occurring in Asia and Europe.

Hantavirus is a family of viruses carried primarily by rodents that can cause serious and sometimes fatal illness in people. People traditionally get Hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva. The Andes virus is the only type of Hantavirus known to spread person to person, and this spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with the ill person.