Kerins J L, Koske S E, Kazmierczak J, Austin C, Gowdy K, Dibernardo A
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA.
Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL.
Can Commun Dis Rep. 2018 Feb 1;44(2):71-74. doi: 10.14745/ccdr.v44i02a07.
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: Seoul virus, a type of hantavirus, is carried by Norway rats. Humans become infected through contact with virus shed in rat urine or droppings, or inhalation of virus particles in dust from contaminated bedding. Infected rats do not develop disease, but humans can experience symptoms ranging from mild influenza-like illness to severe disease with kidney failure and death. Although infections have been previously reported in humans after contact with wild rats, Seoul virus infections had not been reported in pet rats in the United States or Canada.
WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: This report describes the first known outbreak of Seoul virus infections in humans from contact with pet rats in the United States and Canada. This investigation identified 31 United States facilities with human and/or rat Seoul virus infections in 11 states, including six that exchanged rats with Canadian ratteries. Seventeen persons had recent infection with Seoul virus, eight became ill, and three were hospitalized and recovered.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE?: Human hantavirus infections are reportable to state or local health departments in the United States. Clinicians should consider Seoul virus infection in patients with a history of rat contact and compatible symptoms. Pet rat owners and breeders should also be aware of Seoul virus and should practice good hand hygiene and safe rodent handling to prevent infection.
关于该主题已知的信息有哪些？：汉城病毒是汉坦病毒的一种，由褐家鼠携带。人类通过接触鼠尿或粪便中排出的病毒，或吸入受污染垫料灰尘中的病毒颗粒而感染。受感染的老鼠不会发病，但人类可能会出现从轻度流感样疾病到伴有肾衰竭和死亡的严重疾病等各种症状。尽管此前曾有人类接触野生鼠后感染的报道，但在美国或加拿大，尚未有宠物鼠感染汉城病毒的报道。
本报告新增了哪些内容？：本报告描述了美国和加拿大首例已知的因接触宠物鼠导致人类感染汉城病毒的疫情。此次调查确定了美国11个州的31个机构存在人类和/或鼠感染汉城病毒的情况，其中6个机构与加拿大的养鼠场有老鼠交易。17人近期感染了汉城病毒，8人患病，3人住院并康复。
对公共卫生实践有何启示？：在美国，人类感染汉坦病毒的情况需向州或地方卫生部门报告。临床医生应对有接触鼠史且出现相应症状的患者考虑汉城病毒感染的可能性。宠物鼠的主人和饲养者也应了解汉城病毒，并应养成良好的手部卫生习惯和安全处理啮齿动物的方法以预防感染。
