How Is Hantavirus Transmitted? Everything You Need to Know

Understanding how hantavirus spreads and your actual risk of infection.

Primary Transmission Routes

Aerosolized Particles

Inhalation of aerosolized virus particles from dried rodent urine or feces. This is the primary transmission route. Risk is highest in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.

Direct Contact

Direct contact with infected rodent blood, urine, feces, or saliva through cuts or abrasions in the skin.

Rodent Bite

Rare but possible transmission through bite wounds from infected rodents.

Hantavirus Does NOT Spread

✓Person-to-person: Extremely rare; infected people are not contagious to others
✓Waterborne: Hantavirus does not survive long in water
✓Food: Cannot be transmitted through food unless contaminated with rodent droppings
✓Insect bites: Insects do not transmit hantavirus

Special Case: Andes Virus

The Andes strain of hantavirus is unusual in that limited person-to-person transmission has been documented in South America. However, this remains extremely rare and is not typical of other hantavirus strains.