WSU study finds hantavirus strain in rodents in PNW

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Researchers have found that Sin Nombre virus which is a type of Hanta virus may be more widespread among rodent populations in parts of the Pacific Northwest. The study found that nearly 30% of rodents within the Palouse region of Idaho and Washington showed signs of past past infection with 10% being actively infected. Deer mice, voles, and chipmunks are all vectors of the virus in that area. Activities that disturb rodent nests can increase risk of exposure, but don't worry while rodent to rodent transmission is common human infections remain rare.