Notes from the Field: Multiple Cases of Seoul Virus Infection in a Household with Infected Pet Rats — Tennessee, December 2016–April 2017

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

“…This outbreak report, in parallel to the previously described investigation in Tennessee ( 1 ), describes the first known cases of Seoul virus infection in humans attributable to contact with pet rats in the United States and Canada. Human hantavirus infections are nationally notifiable in the United States and suspected cases should be reported to state or local health departments.…”

“…Among these, 31 facilities in 11 states* had laboratory-confirmed human or rat infections, including a previously reported household in Tennessee with two confirmed human infections ( 1 ). Six confirmed facilities in six states (Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah) reported exchanging rats with Canadian ratteries during their trace-forward and trace-back investigations.…”

“…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 ).…”

Viral Disease

“…The seroprevalence of Seoul virus in laboratory rats is low (0%e0.07%) (Liang et al, 2009;McInnes et al, 2011;Pritchett-Corning et al, 2009;Schoondermark-van de Ven et al, 2006). Several reports of Seoul virus infection of pet rats have been reported (Duggan et al, 2017;Fill et al, 2017;Jameson et al, 2013aJameson et al, , 2013bMcElhinney et al, 2016McElhinney et al, , 2017. Seoul virus is found worldwide and its prevalence in wild rat populations is high (12% e58%) (Cueto et al, 2008;Dupinay et al, 2014;Easterbrook et al, 2007b).…”

Urban Rodent Surveillance, Climatic Association, and Genomic Characterization of Seoul Virus Collected at U.S. Army Garrison, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2006–2010

“…Emerging or reemerging RNA viruses, e.g., Ebola virus in West Africa, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus in East Asia, Zika virus in South America, and Seoul virus (SEOV) in the United States, pose significant worldwide public health threats. [1][2][3][4] The recent outbreaks of these viruses originated from zoonoses and have significantly impacted global economies and public health. 5,6 Rodents are known to carry a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and arthropod-associated vectors.…”