Pandemic Watch
Hantavirus in the United Kingdom GB
The United Kingdom is not endemic for hantaviruses in wild rodents in the classical sense, but Seoul virus circulates in urban brown rat populations and in pet rat colonies. Sporadic human cases have been associated with pet rat ownership; one notable outbreak involved a multi-country pet rat trade.
Circulating strains
Hantavirus strains documented in the United Kingdom. HPS = Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (Americas, predominantly fatal lung involvement). HFRS = Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (Eurasia, kidney involvement).
-
- Rodent reservoir
- Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- Case-fatality rate
- 1-2%
- Person-to-person spread
- Not documented
Effectively a global urban hantavirus. Distribution follows its rat reservoirs through ports and cities; clusters in the UK and US have been linked to pet rat ownership.
Past outbreaks involving the United Kingdom
- Hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship travel, Multi-locations 2026-07-02 3 deaths
- Ebola virus disease – United Kingdom 2014-12-30 archived
- Novel coronavirus infection - update 2013-05-18 20 deaths
See the complete hantavirus outbreak history for United Kingdom — year-grouped, with case counts and per-bulletin briefings.
