One pet rat in a Pennsylvania home-based breeding facility has tested positive for Seoul virus, an untreatable and potentially serious condition in humans, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said Thursday.
It’s a type of hantavirus. Found worldwide, it is carried and spread by rodents, specifically the brown or Norway rat. People can become infected with the virus after coming in contact with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents.
The infected Pennsylvania rat was purchased from a Tennessee breeding facility with confirmed Seoul virus infections, part of an outbreak of Seoul virus infection that has recently infected 13 people in eight states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The remaining rats in the Pennsylvania facility were euthanized to prevent further spread of the disease, health officials said.
The CDC on its website offers tips for safely cleaning up after pet rodents to reduce the risk of Seoul virus infection.
At a glance
Number of laboratory-confirmed recent human cases of Seoul virus: 13
Number of states reporting laboratory-confirmed Seoul virus positive results for humans or rats: 8: Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin
States with ratteries currently under investigation: 16: Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin
Source: CDC
“We are working very closely with the CDC to monitor any Seoul virus activity and prevent further exposure,” Pennsylvania Health Secretary Murphy said in a statement. “If you have pet rats you feel could be infected, or if you or your loved ones have been in contact with pet rats and have any symptoms of Seoul virus, you should contact the department at 877-PA-HEALTH.
“While this virus is spread only through infected rats, the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians is our priority.”
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There is no effective treatment for Seoul virus infections, the Department of Health says.
People infected with Seoul virus often have relatively mild symptoms or none at all. Symptoms include:
Fever.
Headache.
Back and abdominal pain.
Chills.
Nausea.
Blurred vision.
Flushing of the face.
Inflammation or redness of the eyes.
Rash.
In rare cases, infection can lead to a type of acute renal disease called Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, or HFRS. The symptoms of HFRS might include low blood pressure, acute shock, and acute kidney failure.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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