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. Employees who typically clean out storage areas, barns, and outbuildings which rodents are likely to infest, or individuals who trap or work with wild rodents have the greatest potential to be exposed to hantavirus. Precautions should always be taken whenever rodent droppings, nesting material, evidence of feeding or dead rodents are found. Never sweep, vacuum, or generate airborne dust when rodent droppings and nesting material are found.