Hantaviruses

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents (e.g., rats, mice). People can become infected by breathing in virus particles from rodent urine, droppings or saliva, especially when contaminated spaces are disturbed during cleaning. Andes virus is a type of hantavirus found in South America. It is the only type of hantavirus to also spread between people, generally limited to situations involving close contact with an individual with a hantavirus infection. In people, hantavirus infection can begin with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches and tiredness, and in some cases may progress to serious breathing problems requiring hospitalization. This severe illness is known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Ontario has not reported any cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome since it became reportable in 2001.