CDC Identifies Seoul Virus Outbreak Among Pet Rat Owners

These are the first known cases of individuals catching the virus from their pets in Canada or the U.S.

Written byDiana Kwon

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A Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)ISTOCK, WHITEWAY

A total of 31 pet supply stores, breeders, and homes across 11 US states have reported cases of Seoul virus infection, a rodent-borne hantavirus, in either humans or rats, according to a report published last week (February 2) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These are the first known instances of transmission from pet rats to their human owners in Canada or the U.S.

The CDC first identified cases of pet-rat-to-human transmission of Seoul virus in late 2016 when they were notified of local cases from health officials in Tennessee and Wisconsin. According to the report, one patient, who was hospitalized with influenza-like symptoms such as fever and a low white blood cell count, owned and operated an in-home rat-breeding facility (a ...

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Meet the Author

Diana Kwon
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Diana is a freelance science journalist who covers the life sciences, health, and academic life. She’s a regular contributor to The Scientist and her work has appeared in several other publications, including Scientific American, Knowable, and Quanta. Diana was a former intern at The Scientist and she holds a master’s degree in neuroscience from McGill University. She’s currently based in Berlin, Germany.
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