Specimen Submission
Request the "HPS Clinical Update" video at the Prevention and Information Materials Available Via Mail page. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease from rodents. Humans can contract the disease when they come into contact with . [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
What Are The Symptoms of HPS?
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 ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
What Is the Treatment for HPS?
There is no specific treatment, cure, or vaccine for hantavirus infection. However, we do know that if infected individuals are recognized early and receive medical care in an intensive care unit, they may do better. In intensive care, patients ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
How Is Hantavirus Transmitted?
In the United States, deer mice (along with cotton rats and rice rats in the southeastern states and the white-footed mouse in the Northeast) carry hantaviruses that cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Rodents shed the virus in their urine, ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
Precautions for Campers and Hikers in the Affected Areas
There is no evidence to suggest that travel into areas where HPS has been reported should be restricted. Most usual tourist activities pose little or no risk that travelers will be exposed to rodents or their urine and/or droppings. However, ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
Clean Up Infested Areas, Using Safety Precautions:
Instead, thoroughly wet contaminated areas with detergent or liquid to deactivate the virus. Most general purpose disinfectants and household detergents are effective. However, a hypochlorite solution prepared by mixing 1 and 1/2 cups of ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
Prevention Indoors and Outdoors
Keep a clean home, especially kitchen (wash dishes, clean counters and floor, keep food covered in rodent-proof containers). Keep a tight-fitting lid on garbage, discard uneaten pet food at the end of the day. Set and keep spring-loaded rodent ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
Who Is at Risk of Getting HPS and Why?
Anyone who comes into contact with rodents that carry hantavirus is at risk of HPS. Rodent infestation in and around the home remains the primary risk for hantavirus exposure. Even healthy individuals are at risk for HPS infection if exposed to ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
Education and Prevention Materials
Infection Control for VHFs in the African Health Care Setting Please feel free to use the following images in hantavirus (either HPS or HFRS) prevention or other educational materials. The images were produced by personnel at CDC; the deer mouse ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
Glossary / CDC Hantaviruses
A person or animal, in which an infectious agent lives, which may not itself have any observable disease (at least at some point, and in the case of some infectious agents, not at all) caused by carrying the agent. The carrier is the potential ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
Information Contacts by State
While we cannot guarantee that any individual state website will offer information on HPS, some sites do offer case information as well as HPS prevention tips. All About Hantaviruses HomeTuesday, August 8, 2006>/ General Information This page ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
Related Materials:
Through March 26, 2007, a total of 465 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome have been reported in the United States. The case count started when the disease was first recognized in May 1993. Thirty-five percent of all reported cases have ... [... more]
Centers for Disease Control |
