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Adult mice, especially adult males, are more likely to be infected with and spread hantavirus to humans.
ATLANTA—Long-term studies of the mice that spread hantavirus infection are finding which mice are most likely to carry the infection and when people are at greatest risk, according to a series of articles in Emerging Infectious Diseases, CDC's peer-reviewed journal, which tracks new and reemerging infections worldwide.
In 1993, a previously unknown illness—hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—was discovered in the Four Corners region (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah), where several otherwise healthy young people died of the syndrome. (Approximately half of the people who have the syndrome later die of shock and lung failure.) The illness is most frequently caused by a hantavirus named Sin Nombre virus, which is carried by the deer mouse and spread to people through infectious urine, saliva, or droppings.
After Sin Nombre virus was identified as the cause of the Four Corners outbreak, a series of long-term studies was begun to examine in their natural environment the types of mice that spread Sin Nombre virus or similar viruses. The investigators found that male mice were more likely to be infected than female mice; one study found that injuries caused by males fighting were related to infection. Also, despite very low numbers of mice at some locations during the year, the infection did not die out, perhaps because a few infected rodents that lived a long time spread it to others, or perhaps because neighboring rodent populations spread the infection. The proportion of infected mice increased during periods of low population density. However, people may be at the greatest risk for infection during peak population density, which was found to be when the largest numbers of mice were infected. Despite the wealth of information obtained in these studies, the investigators agree on the need for continued study of this infection in mice in other locations and under different environmental conditions.
How can the findings of these studies be used to help prevent disease? Say the authors, "The associations we found may improve our capacity to create a model of the processes that influence hantavirus infection and predict the increased risk for spread to humans." If the when, where, and how of infection can be predicted, prevention measures can be designed.
For more information, contact the CDC Media Relations Division, Office of Communication, at 404-639-3286 (tel). URLs for articles related to this press release are given below. Articles are posted as soon as they are finalized. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/vol5no1/calisher.htm, http://www.cdc.gov/EID/vol5no1/kuenzi.htm, http://www.cdc.gov/EID/vol5no1/mills1.htm, http://www.cdc.gov/EID/vol5no1/mills2.htm, http://www.cdc.gov/EID/vol5no1/parmenter.htm, http://www.cdc.gov/EID/vol5no1/abbott.htm
All material in Emerging Infectious Diseases is in the public domain and may be used without special permission; proper citation, however, is appreciated.
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