Hantavirus in United States — 2017
Seoul virus pet-rat outbreak: first multistate confirmation in the US
Overview
2017 brought the first US confirmation of Seoul virus disease in pet-rat owners. Cases were identified across multiple states — Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and others — after a Wisconsin home rat-breeding operation reported an unexplained febrile illness in handlers. Genetic sequencing confirmed Seoul virus. CDC, state health departments, and USDA worked through the breeder network to trace exposed colonies; voluntary testing of pet-rat populations identified additional infected animals. The outbreak prompted CDC guidance on pet-rat hygiene and represented a meaningful shift in US hantavirus epidemiology: a strain previously associated with East Asian port-city brown rats had now established itself in domestic pet-rat networks.
United States baseline
Highest case counts in western and southwestern states (NM, CO, AZ, CA). Sin Nombre virus is the dominant strain.
Source: CDC Hantavirus Surveillance
Relevant strain
References & primary sources
Other years tracked for United States
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Read more: Live United States tracker · Hantavirus strains · Historical outbreaks · Prevention