Outbreak of Seoul Virus Among Rats and Rat Owners — United States and Canada, 2017

In December 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) notified CDC of a patient hospitalized with fever, leukopenia, elevated transaminases, and proteinuria. The patient owned and operated an in-home rattery, or rat-breeding facility, with approximately 100 Norway rats, primarily bred...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 2018-02, Vol.67 (4), p.131-134
Main Authors: Kerins, Janna L., Koske, Sarah E., Kazmierczak, James, Austin, Connie, Gowdy, Karen, Dibernardo, Antonia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Canada - epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks - veterinary
Disease transmission
Full Report
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome - epidemiology
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome - veterinary
Humans
Infection
Infection control
Ownership
Pets
Prevention
Rats
Rodent Diseases - epidemiology
Rodent Diseases - virology
Seoul virus - isolation & purification
United States - epidemiology
Virus diseases
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In December 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) notified CDC of a patient hospitalized with fever, leukopenia, elevated transaminases, and proteinuria. The patient owned and operated an in-home rattery, or rat-breeding facility, with approximately 100 Norway rats, primarily bred as pets. A family member developed similar symptoms 4 weeks later, but was not hospitalized. Because both patients were known to have rodent contact, they were tested for hantavirus infections. In January 2017, CDC confirmed recent, acute Seoul virus infection in both patients. An investigation was conducted to identify additional human and rat infections and prevent further transmission. Ultimately, the investigation identified 31 facilities in 11 states with human and/or rat Seoul virus infections; six facilities also reported exchanging rats with Canadian ratteries. Testing of serum samples from 183 persons in the United States and Canada identified 24 (13.1%) with Seoul virus antibodies; three (12.5%) were hospitalized and no deaths occurred. This investigation, including cases described in a previously published report from Tennessee (1), identified the first known transmission of Seoul virus from pet rats to humans in the United States and Canada. Pet rat owners should practice safe rodent handling to prevent Seoul virus infection (2).
ISSN:0149-2195
1545-861X
DOI:10.15585/mmwr.mm6704a5