Cases of Hantavirus by State: What You Need to Know
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a respiratory disease transmitted through rodent contact, has come into the national spotlight after causing the tragic death Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, in their New Mexico home.
While rare, cases of hantavirus are overwhelmingly more common in the western United States, particularly the four corner states of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah.
Hantavirus Cases by State
According to CDC data, 864 cases of the hantavirus disease have been reported in the United States since 1993. A vast majority — 94 percent — of those cases have come west of the Mississippi River
Over the course of the last five years of reported data (2018-2022), California claimed the most confirmed cases of hantavirus (12), with Colorado (10) and New Mexico (8) following.
Since the CDC first started tracking cases in 1993, New Mexico (122), Colorado (119), and Arizona (86) have had the largest number of hantavirus infections.
How Do You Contract Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a result of direct exposure to rodents, with the deer mouse posing the most-common threat. It cannot be transmitted from person to person, but the virus can remain infectious on surfaces for several days. There have been several instances of localized outbreaks, including a 2012 case in Yosemite National Park that infected 10 people, killing three.
Spotting the infection in rodents is difficult to impossible, so it is important to avoid all contact. Transmission can occur through direct contact, by breathing in contaminated air particles, by handling droppings or nesting materials, or by eating contaminated food.
via the CDC
What Percentage of Deer Mice Have Hantavirus?
An estimated 15 percent of deer mice carry the hantavirus.
Symptoms of Hantavirus
Signs of an infection may not present themselves for upwards of a month after contact with the infected rodent. Initial symptoms resemble the flu: fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, and fever.
After about a week, some may begin to recover. Others, though, will develop a severe shortness of breath as fluid begins to fill their lungs, requiring immediate medical attention. There is no known cure for hantavirus, so early treatment is critical.
What is the Hantavirus Mortality Rate?
Hantavirus can be extremely fatal, with a 35 percent mortality rate since 1993.
Hantavirus Prevention: 3 Steps to Staying Safe
1. Never handle rodent waste or debris without protection
If you find your home, garage, or vehicle facing a rodent problem, gear up with rubber gloves and an N95 mask. While direct contact with rodent urine and droppings is a major risk factor, so is the inhalation of waste particles. Spray all debris with disinfectant and let soak for several minutes before wiping up to avoid brushing the virus into the air.
2. Remove all mice from the area and clean everything
Use mice traps and bait stations to remove the mice from your home or garage in the case of serious infestations. Avoid glue traps and live traps as they can scare the rodent into urinating, increasing the chances of contamination. Simple snap traps with peanut butter bait can work well when placed strategically in and around areas of rodent activity.
Once you’ve removed the rodents from the area, it is important to clean thoroughly. Mice can leave pheromones that serve as road signs back to your home. A Clorox bleach solution (1.5 cups bleach in a gallon of water) is an effective tool.
3. Secure your home and garage against rodents
To prevent further contamination, check your home or garage for any cracks or holes that could serve as an entryway for rodents and fill with steel wool or caulk. It is also important to remove any rodent attractors from the area, including garbage, stored food, and nesting material.
For additional protection, the Box-Kat mouse barrier provides a foolproof fence that can be used to keep mice from reaching your car, home, or storage area. Its patented flex-panel design allows it to adapt seamlessly to uneven surfaces for indoor or outdoor use.