Primary exposure route
The highest-risk scenario is disturbing contaminated rodent material in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
Health information
Transmission
People are usually exposed by breathing particles from infected rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting material.
Person-to-person nuance
Most hantaviruses are not known for person-to-person spread. Andes virus has documented person-to-person transmission in specific contexts, so outbreak pages distinguish virus type when official sources report it.
Important care note
This page is public health information, not diagnosis or individualized medical advice. If symptoms follow possible rodent exposure, contact a clinician or local health authority promptly.
Source:CDC hantavirus guidance