TY - JOUR
T1 - Outbreak of seoul virus among rats and rat owners - United States and Canada, 2017
AU - Canadian Seoul Virus Investigation Group (Federal)
AU - Canadian Seoul Virus Investigation Group (Provincial)
AU - Seoul Virus Working Group
AU - Kerins, Janna L.
AU - Koske, Sarah E.
AU - Kazmierczak, James
AU - Austin, Connie
AU - Gowdy, Karen
AU - Dibernardo, Antonia
AU - Achenbach, Jan
AU - Baber, Jill
AU - Balsamo, Gary
AU - Behravesh, Casey Barton
AU - Blythe, David
AU - Boraks-Pielechaty, Iwona
AU - Brown, Shelley M.
AU - Brown, Jennifer
AU - Brucker, Robert
AU - Bruen, Barbara A.
AU - Campbell, Colin
AU - Cannon, Deborah
AU - Carlson, Beth
AU - Carter, Kris
AU - Cary, Cynthia
AU - Castillo, Caroline
AU - Chiang, Cheng Feng
AU - Choi, Mary
AU - Christel, Ellen
AU - Clayton, April
AU - Colton, Leah
AU - Cronquist, Laura
AU - Damsker, David
AU - Davis, William G.
AU - De St Maurice, Annabelle
AU - Dieckman, Jordan
AU - Dunn, John
AU - Dycus, Drew D.
AU - Ervin, Elizabeth
AU - Feist, Michelle
AU - Feldpausch, Amanda
AU - Fill, Mary Margaret
AU - Gabel, Julie
AU - Garvey, Ann
AU - Genzer, Sarah
AU - Gibbons-Burgener, Suzanne
AU - Graziano, James
AU - Hall, Victoria
AU - Heisey, Russel
AU - Henderson, Heather
AU - Hennebelle, Janemarie
AU - Hiber, Leslie
AU - Holzbauer, Stacy
AU - House, Jennifer
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Department of Health and Human Services. All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/2/2
Y1 - 2018/2/2
N2 - What is already known about this topic? Seoul virus, a type of hantavirus, is carried by Norway rats. Humans become infected through contact with virus shed in rat urine or droppings, or inhalation of virus particles in dust from contaminated bedding. Infected rats do not develop disease, but humans can experience symptoms ranging from mild influenza-like illness to severe disease with kidney failure and death. Although infections have been previously reported in humans after contact with wild rats, Seoul virus infections had not been reported in pet rats in the United States or Canada. What is added by this report? This report describes the first known outbreak of Seoul virus infections in humans from contact with pet rats in the United States and Canada. This investigation identified 31 U.S. facilities with human and/or rat Seoul virus infections in 11 states, including six that exchanged rats with Canadian ratteries. Seventeen persons had recent infection with Seoul virus, eight became ill, and three were hospitalized and recovered. What are the implications for public health practice? Human hantavirus infections are reportable to state or local health departments in the United States. Clinicians should consider Seoul virus infection in patients with a history of rat contact and compatible symptoms. Pet rat owners and breeders should also be aware of Seoul virus and should practice good hand hygiene and safe rodent handling to prevent infection.
AB - What is already known about this topic? Seoul virus, a type of hantavirus, is carried by Norway rats. Humans become infected through contact with virus shed in rat urine or droppings, or inhalation of virus particles in dust from contaminated bedding. Infected rats do not develop disease, but humans can experience symptoms ranging from mild influenza-like illness to severe disease with kidney failure and death. Although infections have been previously reported in humans after contact with wild rats, Seoul virus infections had not been reported in pet rats in the United States or Canada. What is added by this report? This report describes the first known outbreak of Seoul virus infections in humans from contact with pet rats in the United States and Canada. This investigation identified 31 U.S. facilities with human and/or rat Seoul virus infections in 11 states, including six that exchanged rats with Canadian ratteries. Seventeen persons had recent infection with Seoul virus, eight became ill, and three were hospitalized and recovered. What are the implications for public health practice? Human hantavirus infections are reportable to state or local health departments in the United States. Clinicians should consider Seoul virus infection in patients with a history of rat contact and compatible symptoms. Pet rat owners and breeders should also be aware of Seoul virus and should practice good hand hygiene and safe rodent handling to prevent infection.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041660590&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85041660590&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.15585/mmwr.mm6704a5
DO - 10.15585/mmwr.mm6704a5
M3 - Article
C2 - 29393924
AN - SCOPUS:85041660590
SN - 0149-2195
VL - 67
SP - 131
EP - 134
JO - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
JF - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
IS - 4
ER -
