Environment

Hantavirus detected in Florida cotton rats; UF expert explains risks

A hantavirus has been identified in a rat species native to Florida, prompting public health attention about the rare but potentially serious rodent-borne illness. A University of Florida researcher who studies hantaviruses at the cellular level notes that the vast majority of strains do not spread between people, with only one known variant — the Andes virus — linked to any person-to-person transmission. The viruses are primarily passed to humans through contact with infected rodents or their droppings.

Sources: UF News · The Gainesville Sun