PULLMAN, Wash. — A new WSU study found the strain of the hantavirus found in rodents in the U.S. — the Sin Nombre virus – may be more widespread among rodent populations in parts of the Pacific Northwest than previously recognized.
WSU says a recent study conducted in the Palouse region of Washington and Idaho found that nearly 30% of rodents showed evidence of past infection with the virus. About 10% were actively infected, meaning they were carrying and could potentially ‘shed’ the virus.
The study, led by researchers in Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, was published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal.
They say nearly a third of rodents in the Palouse showed evidence of past infection with the Sin Nombre virus, which can be fatal in humans.
This is a different hantavirus strain than the Andes Virus, which has become widely known as the strain tied to the MV Hondius cruise ship where multiple passengers were infected.
You can read more on the WSU study here.
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