I don’t have live access to the latest news in this turn, but I can share current context and general guidance on recent rat-borne viruses.
- What’s most often in the news: Seoul virus and other hantaviruses carried by rats have periodically caused human cases, typically associated with contact with rats or their droppings, and occasionally linked to pet rat facilities or breeding operations. Symptoms can range from mild flu-like illness to kidney issues in some cases.[3][4][5]
- Notable recent trends: outbreaks linked to pet rat breeding or supply chains have sparked public health advisories in prior years, emphasizing hygiene, safe handling of rodents, and proper sanitation to reduce exposure risk.[4][5]
- Protection tips: avoid disturbing rodent nests, wear gloves and a mask when cleaning areas with rodent droppings, ventilate spaces before cleaning, and use damp cleaning methods (not dry sweeping) to reduce aerosolized particles; ensure good rodent-proofing in homes and sheds. Public health agencies often advise seeking medical care if you have fever, headaches, or kidney symptoms after potential rodent exposure.[5]
If you’d like, I can search for the very latest headlines and provide a concise summary with sources. I can also tailor updates to your location in São Paulo or related public health guidance.
Sources
Four people have died from the disease in the U.S. since the start of 2024.
www.newsweek.comWild Science A 44-year-old woman in central Germany nearly died from a virus most people have never heard of, transmitted by creatures increasingly found in living rooms across the country: pet rat…
www.unmc.eduA virus rarely seen in the United States recently infected eight people in Wisconsin and Illinois who were working in facilities where pet rats are bred, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
www.foxnews.comIt's the first known outbreak of Seoul virus associated with pet rats in the United States, officials report
www.cbsnews.comEight people who worked at several rat-breeding facilities in Illinois and Wisconsin have been infected with a virus, CDC says.
www.cbc.caDoctors and scientists reported a case of Seoul virus infection in a woman. The Seoul virus belongs to the hantavirus family and can be transmitted by rats. In their publication of the case in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, the experts recommend better screening and improved hygiene practices in private rat breeding facilities. They also advocate for raising public awareness of zoonoses, which are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
medicalxpress.comA 56-year-old man has been diagnosed with the disease, researchers from the University of Hong Kong said. It was not previously known the disease could be passed from rats to humans.
www.cbsnews.comNASHVILLE, Tenn.--The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating an outbreak of a virus transmitted by rats which could affect at least 12 states.According to the CDC, health officials in 12 states are investigating an outbreak of th
abcnews4.comDoctors and scientists from the University Hospitals Leipzig (UKL) and Mannheim (UMM), and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) and the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), reported a case of Seoul virus infection in a woman. The Seoul virus belongs to the hantavirus family and can be transmitted by rats. This infection is linked to a private animal breeding facility and highlights the growing threat to public health posed...
www.eurekalert.org