Hantavirus

Hantavirus is usually spread by breathing in or touching the poo, pee or saliva of infected rats, mice or voles. It's rare in the UK. You’re more likely to get hantavirus if: you live or work close to rat or mouse poo and pee you handle rats, mice or voles you’ve been bitten by a rat, mouse or vole It can sometimes spread from person to person, but this is rare.

Symptoms of hantavirus infection may include: high temperature body aches and pain feeling sick or being sick diarrhoea tummy pain headache shortness of breath

Hantavirus symptoms usually get better on their own. But if your symptoms are severe, you may need treatment in hospital. In hospital, you may have: medicines, such as painkillers fluids through a vein help to breathe using an oxygen mask or ventilator