Hantavirus in the United States

Country context

The United States first appeared in WHO surveillance for hantavirus in 1997, with a notable outbreak in the Americas. Since then, there have been two significant outbreaks in 2012, both linked to Yosemite National Park. These events occurred in a context of increasing human interaction with natural environments, such as national parks, where rodents that carry the virus are commonly found. The country's health system has responded to these outbreaks, but the pattern of hantavirus activity remains relatively rare and unpredictable.

There are currently no active hantavirus outbreaks in the United States. Public health authorities typically monitor for cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which can be severe and even fatal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments closely track reports of suspected cases and provide updates on their websites. Readers can follow updates on the CDC's website or through local health department announcements for the latest information on hantavirus activity in the US.

Synthesized May 30, 2026 from WHO Disease Outbreak News and supporting public-health sources.