see also:

• https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/

• Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied disease syndromes in people worldwide.
• Infection with any hantavirus can produce hantavirus disease in people.
• Hantaviruses in the Americas are known as “New World” hantaviruses and may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).
• Other hantaviruses, known as “Old World” hantaviruses, are found mostly in Europe and Asia and may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)
• Each hantavirus serotype has a specific rodent host species and is spread to people via aerosolized virus that is shed in urine, feces, and saliva, and less frequently by a bite from an infected host.
• The most important hantavirus in the United States that can cause HPS is the Sin Nombre virus, spread by the deer mouse.

• To protect yourself from hantavirus infection:
  • avoid contact with live or dead rodents, burrows or nests
  • avoid places where dust is raised, such as from sweeping and vacuuming their droppings
  • choose a campsite that is open and dry
  • don't rest in tall grasses or haystacks
  • remove food sources that may attract rodents
• human-to-human spread is rare and usually requires prolonged close contact