The main rodent carriers of hantavirus in New York State are which?

• A. The Norway rat
• B. The house mouse
• C. The brown rat
• D. The deer mouse and white-footed mouse

Answer: (D)

In New York, hantavirus risk is tied mainly to two small Peromyscus species: the deer mouse and the white-footed mouse. These rodents naturally carry hantavirus and shed it in urine, droppings, and saliva. Humans typically become infected by inhaling dust that contains these excreta, especially when cleaning or disturbing areas where mice have nested or left droppings. While rats can carry hantavirus in other parts of the world, they are not the primary reservoirs for the hantavirus strains most commonly associated with New York exposures. Knowing that deer mice and white-footed mice are the primary carriers helps explain why prevention focuses on reducing contact with these species and keeping living and work areas rodent-free.