(Bismarck, ND) — While state health officials urge caution, they’re reminding North Dakotans that the risk of a hantavirus outbreak in our state is relatively low. So far this year, there’s been a single case of hantavirus in North Dakota. Before that, the most recent was in 2022, and those cases didn’t involve the same strain that sickened passenger aboard a Dutch cruise ship.
Hantavirus can spread through exposure to rodent droppings, urine and saliva. The state epidemiologist encourages you to wear gloves and a mask when clearing out attics. The first known case of hantavirus in North Dakota dates back to 1993.
