Can you get hantavirus in Massachusetts?
There have been no recorded cases of HPS transmission from one person to another. People must get the virus directly from rodent urine or feces. Hantavirus is extremely rare in the Boston area.
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Where is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome most prevalent?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a human disease found only in North and South America. Each strain of the hantavirus has a preferred rodent carrier. The deer mouse is the most common carrier of the virus in North America and Central America.
Which strain of hantavirus causes HPS in North America?
HPS in the US is mostly caused by Sin Nombre Hantavirus, a newly identified virus within the Bunyaviridae family. The virus is carried by the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). The deer mouse can be found in most parts of the United States, except the southeast.
Is hantavirus in the Northeast?
The New York hantavirus, carried by the white-footed mouse, is associated with HPS cases in the northeastern US. The Black Creek hantavirus, carried by the cotton rat, is found in the southeastern US.

Can you get hantavirus in New England?
This report describes the first case of HPS acquired in New England; only 15 (5%) of the 284 cases confirmed by CDC have occurred east of the Mississippi River. Hantaviruses known to cause HPS in the United States include Sin Nombre, New York, Monongahela, Bayou, and Black Creek Canal viruses.
How common is it to get hantavirus?
Q: Is it common? Cohen: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is rare — the chance of getting the disease is 1 in 13,000,000, which is less likely than being struck by lightning.
What percentage of deer mice carry hantavirus?
Approximately 12 percent of deer mice carry hantavirus. The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) is the primary reservoir for Sin Nombre Virus, the strain of hantavirus responsible for the human cases in Yosemite National Park, and most human cases in the United States.
What are the chances of getting hantavirus?
Does hantavirus always cause HPS?
Rarely, hantavirus infections result in mild illness that does not progress to HPS. Continued testing and surveillance of clinical cases in humans will improve our understanding of the etiologic agents involved and the spectrum of diseases.
What are the three 3 symptoms of hantavirus?
Early symptoms include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups—thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders. These symptoms are universal. There may also be headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
What percent of deer mice have hantavirus?
How quickly do hantavirus symptoms appear?
Due to the small number of HPS cases, the “incubation time” is not positively known. However, on the basis of limited information, it appears that symptoms may develop between 1 and 8 weeks after exposure to fresh urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents.
How do I know if I have hantavirus?
Can you have hantavirus and not know it?
Hantavirus infection can have no symptoms or cause mild to severe illness. Fever is the most common symptom in all three types of disease and lasts about 3-7 days.
How common is hantavirus in Massachusetts?
HPS is rare. Between 1993 and 2011, a total of 587 cases were reported in the United States. The majority of those cases were identified in the Southwest, from the states of New Mexico, California, Arizona and Colorado. To date, there has not been a confirmed HPS case acquired in Massachusetts.
What are the odds of getting hantavirus?
Can I be tested for hantavirus?
Blood tests can reveal if your body has made antibodies to a hantavirus. Your doctor may order other laboratory tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.
How long after exposure do you get hantavirus?
Most often symptoms occur 9-33 days after the virus enters the body, but symptoms can appear as early as one week or as late as eight weeks. Early symptoms are general and include fever, fatigue, and muscle pain.
Should I be worried about hantavirus?
What can make hantaviruses so harmful to the people who get them? People who have HPS may be prone to respiratory failure. Respiratory failure can be fatal as well. If an individual who has HPS is able to get past respiratory failure, he or she may require several weeks to heal 100 percent.
How long does it take for you to know if you have hantavirus?