Hantaviruses are mainly spread from rodents to people. People can be exposed when infected rodents leave urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting material in places where people live, work, travel, or clean.
Most hantaviruses do not spread from person to person. Andes virus is the important exception: it is the only known hantavirus type that can spread between people, usually through close contact with someone who is sick.
Quick answer
The most common hantavirus risk is rodent exposure. Infection can happen when contaminated rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting material is disturbed and tiny particles become airborne. A person can breathe in contaminated air or touch contaminated material and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Andes virus can also spread through close contact with a sick person, but this is not how most hantaviruses spread.
Rodent exposure
Rodents can carry hantaviruses without looking sick. A person may be exposed in places where rodents have been active, including:
- Cabins
- Sheds
- Garages
- Barns
- Storage units
- Crawl spaces
- Attics
- Vehicles
- Campsites
- Rural buildings
- Poorly ventilated or long-closed spaces
The risk increases when rodent urine, droppings, nesting material, or contaminated dust is disturbed.
Airborne exposure from contaminated dust
Hantavirus can spread when fresh rodent urine, droppings, or nesting material is stirred up and virus-containing particles get into the air.
Examples include:
- Sweeping rodent droppings
- Vacuuming rodent-contaminated areas
- Moving dusty boxes or stored materials
- Opening and cleaning long-closed buildings
- Disturbing nests or dead rodents
- Using high-pressure air or sprayers before disinfecting
This is why public-health guidance warns against sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings before proper disinfection.
Surface and contact exposure
Exposure can also occur if contaminated saliva, urine, or feces gets into:
- Cuts or broken skin
- Eyes
- Nose
- Mouth
This can happen after touching contaminated material and then touching your face. It can also happen through contact with contaminated bedding, storage materials, or surfaces.
Bites and scratches
Rodent bites and scratches can create exposure risk. If you are bitten or scratched by a rodent, contact a healthcare provider or local public-health authority for situation-specific guidance.
Is hantavirus contagious?
Most hantaviruses are not transmitted from person to person.
Andes virus is different. CDC states that Andes virus is the only type of hantavirus known to spread person-to-person. This spread is usually limited to close contact with someone who is sick. Close contact can include direct physical contact, prolonged time in close or enclosed spaces, or exposure to body fluids from the sick person.
Can hantavirus spread through casual contact?
For most hantaviruses, person-to-person spread is not expected.
For Andes virus, the concern is close contact with a symptomatic person, not ordinary brief public contact. If you have been identified as a contact in an Andes virus outbreak, follow the instructions of public-health authorities.
Can pets spread hantavirus?
This page focuses on human exposure from wild rodents and Andes virus close-contact spread. If your concern involves a pet rodent, animal handling, or a household infestation, follow CDC guidance and contact a veterinarian, healthcare provider, or local health department for situation-specific advice.
Common myths
Myth: "You only get hantavirus from a bite."
A bite is one possible exposure, but it is not the main route. Breathing contaminated air after rodent droppings or nesting material are disturbed is a key concern.
Myth: "If I do not see live rodents, there is no risk."
Rodent droppings, urine, saliva, nests, and dead rodents can remain in a space even when you do not see a live animal.
Myth: "All hantavirus spreads between people."
Most hantaviruses do not spread person-to-person. Andes virus is the known exception, and transmission usually requires close contact with someone who is sick.
How to reduce risk
- Avoid contact with rodent urine, droppings, saliva, nests, and dead rodents.
- Do not sweep or vacuum rodent droppings before disinfecting.
- Ventilate closed spaces before cleaning.
- Use disinfectant and gloves when cleaning rodent-contaminated areas.
- Seal holes and gaps where rodents may enter.
- Store food securely.
- Follow public-health instructions if you are identified as a contact of an Andes virus case.