Risks of a Seoul virus infection

Find out what the risks of getting infected with a Seoul virus is and who is most at risk.

What are the risks of getting infected with a Seoul virus?

The risk of getting infected with a Seoul virus in Canada is considered low.

However, anyone who comes into contact with rodents carrying Seoul virus is at risk. Even healthy people can get infected and become seriously ill.

People can become infected with this virus after coming in contact with urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. Seoul virus is not spread from human to human. Infected rats do not become sick but can shed virus for many months, and possibly the rest of their lives.

While Seoul virus infection in humans is generally considered less severe than some other types of hantavirus infections, it can still cause a severe illness in some cases. In rare cases, people may develop a severe form of infection known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), and an estimated 1-2% of people who develop HFRS may die.