New Mexico Department of Health: third hantavirus case of 2026
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Hantavirus in United States
No active risk signals detected for United States in the current 30-day window.
Hantavirus signals for United States are aggregated from WHO Disease Outbreak News, ProMED-mail, PAHO bulletins, and global news (GDELT & Google News). The risk index combines news mention density, verified outbreak reports, source authority, and recency. Hantaviruses are considered endemic in this country.
Confirmed cases · HPS
2023Annual range
25–60/year
Cumulative
850
confirmed in United States since systematic surveillance began
Case-fatality rate
36%
Syndrome
HPS
hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
Highest case counts in western and southwestern states (NM, CO, AZ, CA). Sin Nombre virus is the dominant strain.
Source CDC Hantavirus SurveillanceMention activity · 24 months2 mentions
−24m−12mnow
Recent news from United States
FAQ
Hantavirus in United States: questions answered
How many hantavirus cases per year are reported in United States?
United States reports approximately 25–60/year confirmed hantavirus cases, based on CDC Hantavirus Surveillance surveillance through 2023. Cumulative confirmed cases since systematic surveillance began are approximately 850. The reported case-fatality rate is approximately 36%. The dominant strain is Sin Nombre virus causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Highest case counts in western and southwestern states (NM, CO, AZ, CA). Sin Nombre virus is the dominant strain. See CDC Hantavirus Surveillance for the authoritative current figure.
Is hantavirus present in United States?
Yes — United States is a known reporting region for hantavirus. The principal strain associated with human cases is Sin Nombre virus, primarily carried by deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Local transmission produces hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). United States currently shows a low Hantavirus Tracker risk index, meaning no notable signals have been detected from monitored sources in the recent window.
What is the current hantavirus risk in United States?
No active risk signals are being detected for United States in the current window. This means the Hantavirus Tracker has not seen meaningful news, outbreak reports, or surveillance updates for the country in the last 30 days.
How does hantavirus spread in United States?
Most human infections in United States occur when people inhale aerosolized particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, typically while cleaning enclosed spaces such as cabins, sheds, barns, or rural homes that have had rodent activity. Less commonly, infection follows a rodent bite or eating food contaminated by rodents. Person-to-person spread is generally not documented for hantaviruses globally, with the notable exception of Andes virus in southern South America, which has produced confirmed person-to-person clusters in Argentina and Chile.
What are the symptoms of hantavirus and when should someone in United States seek care?
Early symptoms appear roughly one to eight weeks after exposure and include fever, severe muscle aches (especially in the thighs, hips, lower back), headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. After several days, patients with HPS develop coughing and rapidly worsening shortness of breath as fluid fills the lungs — this phase can be fatal within hours without intensive care. Anyone with flu-like symptoms and recent rodent exposure (within the last six weeks) should contact a healthcare provider immediately and explicitly mention the rodent contact history.
How is hantavirus prevented in United States?
Prevention focuses on reducing contact with rodents and their droppings: seal openings ¼ inch and larger in homes and outbuildings, store food in rodent-proof containers, remove brush and woodpiles near dwellings, and clean rodent-contaminated areas safely. Never sweep or vacuum dry droppings — that aerosolizes the virus. Instead, ventilate the space, wear gloves and an N95 respirator, spray surfaces with a 1:10 bleach-water solution, let it soak five minutes, then wipe with paper towels and double-bag the waste. People working in rural agriculture, hantavirus-endemic forests, or cleaning long-unused cabins in United States are at the highest occupational risk.
United States hantavirus — year in surveillance
Notable years and current surveillance snapshots for United States.
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Prevention
- Seal openings ¼ inch and larger in homes and outbuildings.
- Trap rodents and remove sources of food and shelter.
- When cleaning rodent-contaminated areas, wet down with a 1:10 bleach-water solution before wiping; never sweep or vacuum dry droppings.
- Wear gloves and an N95 respirator when cleaning enclosed rodent-affected spaces.
See the full prevention guide →
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Reference
Read more: What is hantavirus · Symptoms · Transmission · Historical outbreaks