Hantavirus transmission
Dernière mise à jour : 12/05/2026
Avertissement : ces informations sont générales et ne remplacent pas un avis médical. En cas de symptômes, d’exposition à des rongeurs ou de doute, consultez un professionnel de santé ou les autorités sanitaires compétentes.
Hantaviruses are mainly spread from infected rodents to humans. Exposure can occur when contaminated urine, droppings, saliva or nesting material are disturbed and small particles become airborne. Exposure can also occur when contaminated material contacts broken skin, the eyes, nose or mouth.
Common exposure settings
- cleaning enclosed areas with signs of rodents;
- handling contaminated materials without appropriate precautions;
- entering poorly ventilated spaces where rodents have nested;
- working or staying in settings with rodent infestation.
Person-to-person transmission
Most hantaviruses are not commonly transmitted from person to person. However, some public health sources identify Andes virus as an exception in specific circumstances. For this reason, outbreak guidance should always be checked with official authorities.