Outbreak of Seoul Virus Among Rats and Rat Owners — United States and Canada, 2017
Authors: Janna L. Kerins, Sarah E. Koske, James Kazmierczak, Connie Austin, Karen Gowdy, Antonia Dibernardo, Jan Achenbach, Jill Baber, Gary Balsamo, Casey Barton Behravesh, David Blythe, Iwona Boraks-Pielechaty, Shelley M. Brown, Jennifer Brown, Robert Brucker, Barbara A. Bruen, Colin Campbell, Deborah Cannon, Beth Carlson, Kris Carter, Cynthia Cary, Caroline Castillo, Cheng-Feng Chiang, Mary Choi, Ellen Christel, April Clayton, Leah Colton, Laura Cronquist, David Damsker, William G. Davis, Annabelle de St Maurice, Jordan Dieckman, John Dunn, Drew D. Dycus, Elizabeth Ervin, Michelle Feist, Amanda Feldpausch, Mary Margaret Fill, Julie Gabel, Ann Garvey, Sarah Genzer, Suzanne Gibbons-Burgener, James Graziano, Victoria Hall, Russel Heisey, Heather Henderson, Janemarie Hennebelle, Leslie Hiber, Stacy Holzbauer, Jennifer House, Eddie Jackson, Mary H. Jenks, Dee Jones CDC, Susan Keller, John D. Klena, Rachel F. Klos, Barbara Knust, Anna Kocharian, Katrin Kohl, Gregory Langham, George Lathrop, Jennifer Layden, Kathryn Lehatto, Jodi Lovejoy, Kenneth Lowery, Nicole Lukovsky-Akhsanov, Nhiem Luong, Michael Maglio, Craig Manning, Chandra Marriott, Natalie Marzec, Michel Masters, Susan McClanahan, Lisa McCloskey, Shannon McKnight, Jennifer McQuiston, Sara McReynolds, Gianna Megaro, Maria Morales-Betoulle, Allyn K. Nakashima, Stuart Nichol, Julie Paoline, Nishi Patel, Ketan Patel, Dallin Peterson, Leah Posivak-Khouly, Nathaniel Powell, Howard Pue, Lawrence Purpura, Rachel Radcliffe, Nicole Reynolds, Linda Roesch, Pierre Rollin, Andrea L. Sandberg, Joni Scheftel, Betsy Schroeder, Irshad A. Shaikh, Trevor Shoemaker, Jennifer Sidge, Tom Sidwa, Kim Signs, Amber Singh, Aaron Smee, Danielle Stanek, Mary Grace Stobierski, Anne Straily, Ute Ströher, Cassandra Tansey, Leslie Tengelsen, Beth Thompson, Susan L. Ward, Kimberly Warren, Susan Weinstein, Deborah Weiss, Andre Weltman, Tigist Yirko, Joyce Zuzack, Peter A. Buck, Allen Grolla, Chris Huynh, L. Robbin Lindsay, Courtney Loomer, David Safronetz, Angela Sloan, Jim E. Strong, Joanne R. Tataryn, Linda Vrbova
Journal: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2018)

In December 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) notified CDC of a patient hospitalized with fever, leukopenia, elevated transaminases, and proteinuria. The patient owned and operated an in-home rattery, or rat-breeding facility, with approximately 100 Norway rats, primarily bred as pets. A family member developed similar symptoms 4 weeks later, but was not hospitalized. Because both patients were known to have rodent contact, they were tested for hantavirus infections. In January 2017, CDC confirmed recent, acute Seoul virus infection in both patients. An investigation was conducted to identify additional human and rat infections and prevent further transmission. Ultimately, the investigation identified 31 facilities in 11 states with human and/or rat Seoul virus infections; six facilities also reported exchanging rats with Canadian ratteries. Testing of serum samples from 183 persons in the United States and Canada identified 24 (13.1%) with Seoul virus antibodies; three (12.5%) were hospitalized and no deaths occurred. This investigation, including cases described in a previously published report from Tennessee (1), identified the first known transmission of Seoul virus from pet rats to humans in the United States and Canada. Pet rat owners should practice safe rodent handling to prevent Seoul virus infection (2).