It is a virus that can cause an extremely rare, but serious respiratory illness called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. This illness has been found throughout the United States for many years. However, the virus causing this illness was only identified in 1993. The symptoms of hantavirus infection are similar to the flu - fever, body aches, chills and trouble breathing. Hantavirus is spread primarily by deer mice.
Deer mice spread hantavirus in their droppings, urine, saliva and nesting material.
The virus attaches itself to dust particles, which can become airborne if disturbed. The virus infects humans by inhalation of the virus contaminated dust or by close contact with contaminated material. Deer mice can also transmit the virus to humans through bites. The risk of acquiring hantavirus is extremely rare, even among people that are consistently exposed to mice and other rodents. Seventy percent of the exposures occur around the home.