Hantavirus in United States.
The United States has reported fewer than 900 confirmed HPS cases since surveillance began in 1993 (CDC NNDSS).
The United States has reported fewer than 900 confirmed HPS cases since surveillance began in 1993 (CDC NNDSS). Cases concentrate in the Four Corners region — New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah — driven by Sin Nombre virus and its deer-mouse reservoir. Outbreaks correlate with wet winters that increase rodent populations the following spring. National notification is mandatory; CDC publishes weekly counts via NNDSS. The 2012 Yosemite National Park outbreak (10 cases, 3 deaths from canvas-tent cabin exposure) is the most-cited US tourism-linked event. Bayou virus accounts for the majority of cases in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.
Active and recent clusters
- United States · Four Corners endemic zone — 17 cases, 0 deaths (CFR 0%) · CDC NNDSS, 2026 MMWR week 17 (most recent published). United States reports approximately 15–40 confirmed HPS cases per year, concentrated in the Four Corners region (Sin Nombre virus). Numbers shown are the most recent CDC NNDSS Weekly publication.
Authoritative sources
Frequently asked
Is hantavirus a problem in United States?
Yes. United States is part of the Americas hantavirus surveillance footprint, with the Sin Nombre (with Bayou and Black Creek Canal locally) strain causing HPS and case fatality typically 30–38%.
What rodent carries hantavirus in United States?
Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) in the Southwest; rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) in the Southeast; cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) in the South.
Who tracks hantavirus cases in United States?
CDC — Hantavirus surveillance; data.cdc.gov NNDSS Tables.
Related
Disclaimer. Country surveillance figures are floor estimates and reflect what national authorities publish. Always confirm with the cited sources.