Hantavirus
Find out about hantavirus, including causes, what the symptoms are, when to get medical help, and how it’s treated.
Hantavirus is the name of a group of viruses spread by rats, mice and voles. It’s rare in the UK. Hantaviruses usually cause mild illness, but some people can become seriously unwell.
Hantavirus is usually spread by breathing in or touching the poo, pee or saliva of infected rats, mice or voles. It’s rare in the UK.
You’re more likely to get hantavirus if:
- you live or work close to rat or mouse poo and pee
- you handle rats, mice or voles
- you’ve been bitten by a rat, mouse or vole
It can sometimes spread from person to person, but this is rare.
The risk from the type of hantavirus that has recently affected people on the Dutch cruise ship is very low.
Symptoms of hantavirus infection may include:
- high temperature
- body aches and pain
- feeling sick or being sick
- diarrhoea
- tummy pain
- headache
- shortness of breath
See a GP if:
You may have been in contact with rats, mice or voles and you have:
- a high temperature, or you feel hot, cold or shivery
- body aches and pain
- feeling sick or being sick
- diarrhoea
- tummy pain
- headache
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
You may have been in contact with rats, mice or voles and you have:
- shortness of breath
You can call 111 or get help from NHS 111 online.
Hantavirus symptoms usually get better on their own. But if your symptoms are severe, you may need treatment in hospital.
In hospital, you may have:
- medicines, such as painkillers
- fluids through a vein
- help to breathe using an oxygen mask or ventilator
