Recent headlines about Hantavirus have understandably made many people anxious. There are several reasons for the concern. First, there is no treatment for the virus, and infection carries a high mortality rate. Second, after living through the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all a bit more on edge with reports of emerging viruses. Finally, Hantavirus has been relatively unknown until recently, when it was implicated in the death of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman’s wife and now to illnesses aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
As a veterinarian, I thought it would be helpful to explain what Hantavirus is, how it spreads and whether pet owners should be concerned about their dogs and cats.
What is Hantavirus?
Unlike ancient viruses, such as the rabies virus, Hantavirus is relatively new. Originally isolated near the Hantan River in Korea in 1951, the first American outbreak of severe respiratory disease from Hantavirus occurred in 1993 in the Four Corners region of the southwest.
Researchers traced that outbreak to rodents, specifically the deer mouse, which served as the reservoir of Hantavirus in that outbreak. A “reservoir” is a species that carries the virus and can spread the infection without becoming ill itself.
People typically become infected after inhaling residue of rodent droppings from a Hantavirus-infected rodent. Although most American outbreaks of Hantavirus occur west of the Mississippi River, deer mice live throughout the United States, meaning Hantavirus infections could occur anywhere.
Hantavirus vs. Hendra Virus: Easy to Confuse
When I started thinking about Hantavirus and pets, I briefly confused it with another “H” virus I heard about from veterinarians in Australia last summer: Hendra virus.
Hendra virus is a highly contagious virus of horses that can spread to humans. Unlike Hantavirus, its reservoir species is the flying fox, also known as fruit bats. Flying foxes are not native to the United States and are only found here in zoos. Hendra virus is not a threat to American pets, and hopefully we humans are safe from this virus too.
Why Is the CDC Monitoring Hantavirus?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated a Level 3 emergency response regarding recent Hantavirus concerns. While this sounds ominous, it’s the CDC’s lowest level of response. It means the agency is closely monitoring a disease outbreak which is believed to pose a low risk to the public.
The CDC is also organizing the stateside return of Americans on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
Can Dogs or Cats Get Hantavirus?
Based on current evidence, wild rodents – especially mice and rats – serve as the reservoir species for Hantavirus. Dogs and cats are not thought to be susceptible to Hantavirus infection and are not thought to play a role in spreading the disease to people.
How to Protect Your Family from Hantavirus
Most strains of Hantavirus do not spread from person to person. The rare exception is the Andes strain of Hantavirus, which is contagious from person to person and is the strain currently causing worldwide concern.
But since rodents are the natural reservoir, no matter what Hantavirus strain is causing an outbreak, rodent control is critical. New York City has extensive resources on its website to help control rodents, including NYC Rodent Academy for pest control specialists!
The Bottom Line
Right now, the risk to people and pets for Hantavirus is low and we hope it stays that way.