A dangerous disease carried by rats is making headlines. Hantavirus, which can spread from rodents to humans through their urine, saliva, or droppings, has recently caused several deaths in the US.

In Arizona, seven people have been diagnosed with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a severe illness that can be fatal. Three of these cases ended in death. Symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle aches, which quickly make it hard to breathe. This virus is found mainly in deer mice, but it can be present anywhere there are rodents, even if you don’t see them.

California has also reported two cases of hantavirus, with one person dying from it. The disease is not spread from person to person but through contact with rodent droppings.

Health officials advise anyone who has had rodent problems to follow specific cleaning procedures to reduce the risk. The last hantavirus case in Coconino County was in 2016, and the syndrome was first identified in 1993 among the Navajo tribe, where it had a high fatality rate.

Stay safe by keeping areas clean and avoiding contact with rodent waste.