Hantavirus & Rodent Disease Glossary
Key terms used in CDC publications, medical literature, and across this site — defined in plain English.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
A severe, often fatal respiratory disease caused by inhaling airborne particles from infected rodent droppings, urine, or nesting material. The primary form of hantavirus disease in North America. Characterized by an initial flu-like phase followed by rapid accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Case fatality rate in the United States is approximately 35–38%.
HPS symptoms and timeline →Sin Nombre Virus (SNV)
The hantavirus strain responsible for the majority of HPS cases in the United States. Named after Sin Nombre Canyon in New Mexico, where it was first characterized during the 1993 Four Corners outbreak. Carried primarily by the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). No documented human-to-human transmission.
Transmission explained →Andes Virus
A hantavirus strain found in South America, primarily Argentina and Chile. The only hantavirus known to have documented person-to-person transmission, though inefficient and requiring close, prolonged contact. Not present in North American rodent populations. Caused the 2026 Hondius cruise ship cluster.
New York Virus
A hantavirus strain carried by the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) in the eastern United States. Capable of causing HPS, though responsible for fewer documented cases than Sin Nombre virus. Named because it was first characterized in a New York patient.
Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
The primary reservoir species for Sin Nombre virus in the United States. Identified by a white underside, white feet, and a sharply bicolored tail — dark above, white below. Widespread across rural North America, particularly in arid and semi-arid western habitats. Not the common house mouse.
Deer mouse vs house mouse identification →White-Footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus
The primary hantavirus reservoir in the eastern United States. Closely resembles the deer mouse in appearance. Carries New York virus and related strains capable of causing HPS. Found in wooded and suburban habitats east of the Mississippi, including Ohio, New York, Michigan, and New England states.
House Mouse Mus musculus
The common indoor mouse found in urban homes, restaurants, and suburban garages across North America. Not a recognized reservoir for HPS-causing hantavirus strains. Does carry other pathogens including salmonella, LCM virus, and leptospirosis. Distinguished from deer mice by uniformly grayish-brown coloring and a nearly hairless, single-color tail.
Can house mice carry hantavirus? →Aerosolization
The process by which dried rodent droppings, urine, or nesting material is disturbed and becomes airborne as fine particles. The primary mechanism of hantavirus transmission to humans. Occurs when contaminated material is swept, vacuumed, or otherwise agitated in an enclosed space. The particles are microscopic and invisible — no dust cloud is required for exposure.
What happens if you inhale mouse droppings →MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
A peer-reviewed public health journal published weekly by the CDC. Serves as the primary vehicle for CDC surveillance data, outbreak investigations, and confirmed case reports. HPS case investigations — including anonymized patient histories, exposure circumstances, and epidemiological findings — are published in MMWR. A primary source for understanding how real-world exposures occur.
Reservoir Species
An animal species that chronically harbors a pathogen without becoming severely ill, allowing the pathogen to persist in the environment. For Sin Nombre virus, the deer mouse is the reservoir — infected individuals carry the virus throughout their lives without dying from it. Humans are dead-end hosts: they can be infected, but they do not transmit the virus onward (except in the case of Andes virus).
R₀ (Basic Reproduction Number) (R-naught)
The average number of secondary infections produced by a single infected individual in a fully susceptible population. A value greater than 1 allows a disease to spread exponentially. Sin Nombre virus has an effective R₀ of 0 in human populations — infected people do not infect others, so the chain ends at every case. This is why hantavirus cannot cause a pandemic in its current form.
Could hantavirus become a pandemic? →N95 Respirator
A respirator certified to filter at least 95% of airborne particles 0.3 microns and larger. The minimum standard recommended by CDC for rodent cleanup in potentially contaminated spaces. Distinct from surgical masks (which do not filter fine particles) and standard dust masks (which do not filter viral-particle-sized aerosols). Required when cleaning areas with deer mouse or white-footed mouse evidence.
Full PPE guide for rodent cleanup →Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV)
A rodent-borne virus carried by approximately 5% of house mice in the United States. Transmitted through contact with infected urine, droppings, or saliva. Usually causes mild flu-like illness in healthy adults but poses serious risk to fetuses — infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe birth defects. Less severe than hantavirus but significantly more common.
What diseases do mice carry? →YMYL (Your Money or Your Life)
A Google search quality classification for content that could significantly affect a person's health, safety, or financial wellbeing. Health sites — including rodenthealthrisk.com — are held to higher standards of Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) under Google's quality guidelines. This is why all content on this site is verified against CDC and WHO primary sources.