Hantavirus Safety: Everyday Prevention and Home Habits

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In May 2026, a hantavirus outbreak on an international cruise ship was linked to several illnesses and multiple deaths.

Hantaviruses have been around for centuries, but hantavirus infections in humans are uncommon, especially in the northeastern United States.

In this article, learn about hantavirus and how to reduce your risk of infection.

What Is Hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that spread mainly through contact with infected rodents or their droppings (feces), urine, or saliva. These viruses can cause severe illness and death in infected people.

The two most common illnesses that hantaviruses cause are:

• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) — HPS attacks the lungs and can be severe and deadly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms can die from HPS. HPS is most common in North, Central, and South America.
• Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) — HFRS causes kidney problems. The severity depends on the specific hantavirus that causes the illness. HFRS is most common in Europe and Asia.

How Does Hantavirus Spread?

Hantavirus usually spreads through contact with rodents like rats and mice. The most common route is through contact with their excretions (feces, urine, or saliva).

Less often, hantavirus spreads through bites from infected rodents.

Some hantaviruses can spread through close contact with an infected person. However, that is rare.

How Can I Prevent Hantavirus Infection?

The best way to prevent hantavirus infection is by avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings, urine, or saliva. That means taking precautions around your house.

How Do I Keep Rodents Out of My House?

Rodent exposure prevention starts with keeping rodents out of your house. Try the following steps to rodent-proof your house:

Seal up potential entry points

Rodents can enter your home through any space wider than a pencil. Inspect the inside and outside of your house to look for any gaps where rodents can enter.

If you see any gaps, seal them up. You can use steel wool, caulk, metal screens, or other patching material.

Seal up food and water

Food and water can attract rodents, so it’s important to seal up indoor food and water sources.

Storing your food in tightly sealed containers can prevent rodent contact. You should also clean up quickly after cooking, eating, or spilling something.

Similarly, you should put pet food away after using it and avoid leaving food and water bowls out overnight.

Finally, keep your garbage in tightly sealed containers. Take out the garbage and clean your garbage containers regularly.

Take care of the outdoors

Outdoor precautions are also important to avoid rodent contact. Maintaining the area around your house can lower your risk of rodents getting in.

Keep the following items away from your house, as they can attract rodents or be potential nesting spots:

• Abandoned vehicles.
• Bird feeders.
• Brush and weeds.
• Composting bins.
• Garbage containers.
• Wood piles.

You should also make sure the grass and shrubs around your house are well-maintained.

What Should I Do If a Rodent Gets in My House?

You can often tell that a rodent has entered your home by seeing chew marks or droppings. For hantavirus safety, it’s important to take precautions when cleaning rodent droppings and trapping rodents.

How to clean up after rodents

If you find rodent urine or droppings, taking the proper precautions can keep you and your family safe. The following home cleaning safety habits can prevent hantavirus infection:

1. Put on plastic or rubber gloves.
2. Spray the urine and droppings with a household disinfectant or bleach solution until very wet. Let them soak for five minutes.
3. Wipe up the droppings, urine, and cleaner with paper towels.
4. Throw the paper towels away in a covered garbage container that you empty regularly.
5. Mop or sponge the area with a disinfectant. Make sure you clean all hard surfaces.
6. Before removing your gloves, wash the outside of the gloves with soap and water or a disinfectant.
7. After removing your gloves, wash your hands with soap and water. Make sure that you disinfect the sink and faucet as well.

Please note: You should not sweep or vacuum rodent droppings, urine, or nesting materials. Vacuuming or sweeping can cause potentially dangerous pathogens like hantavirus to get into the air.

How to trap rodents

To prevent hantavirus, you should use snap traps or poison traps. Do not use glue traps or live traps.

If you trap a rodent, take the following steps to safely dispose of dead rodents, traps, and nesting materials:

1. Put on plastic or rubber gloves.
2. Spray the dead rodent, nest, and surrounding area with disinfectant. Let it soak for five minutes.
3. Place the dead rodent, the used trap, and/or nesting materials in a plastic bag. Tie the ends in a knot. Place that bag in a second plastic bag, and tie the ends of the second bag in a knot.
4. Place the plastic bags and their contents in a covered garbage can that you regularly clean and empty.
5. Wash your gloved hands with soap and water or a disinfectant before removing them.
6. After removing your gloves, wash your hands with soap and water. Also make sure you disinfect the sink and faucet.

What Are the Symptoms of Hantavirus Infection?

You can prevent hantavirus by avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings, urine, or saliva. But if you have been exposed, you should be mindful of the symptoms of hantavirus.

If you start showing symptoms, you should seek care right away. Mention your rodent exposure to your medical provider.

What are the symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?

HPS is the hantavirus-related disease that is most common in North America. Symptoms of HPS can appear anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure to hantavirus.

The earliest symptoms are flu-like symptoms, such as:

• Abdominal pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Dizziness.
• Fatigue.
• Fever and chills.
• Headaches.
• Muscle aches.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Later symptoms usually appear four to 10 days after the first signs of illness. These include:

• Chest tightness.
• Cough.
• Shortness of breath.

HPS can be deadly. It’s important to seek care immediately if you have been exposed to rodents and are showing symptoms.

What are the symptoms of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome?

HFRS is much more common in Asia and Europe. However, you should still be mindful of the symptoms. HFRS symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after hantavirus exposure; however, they can take up to eight weeks to develop.

Early symptoms of HFRS include:

• Abdominal pain.
• Back pain.
• Blurry vision.
• Eye redness or inflammation.
• Face flushing.
• Fever and chills.
• Nausea.
• Rash.
• Severe headache.

The later symptoms include:

• Internal bleeding.
• Kidney failure.
• Low blood pressure.
• Shock.

If you’ve been exposed to rodents and have symptoms of HFRS, seek care immediately.

Is There Treatment for Hantavirus?

There are no specific treatments for HPS or HFRS. Treatments typically involve supportive care for symptoms.

For HPS, treatment may involve respiratory support such as intubation. For HFRS, treatment could involve dialysis. Rest, hydration, and other symptom care are also important.