Officials say the health risk to Ontarians is considered low and Seoul virus is not spread from person to person. A person infected with Seoul virus may not develop symptoms or will only develop very mild symptoms. Rats do not show symptoms of disease when they are infected with Seoul virus. Dr. David Williams says the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is investigating three human cases of Seoul virus among people who had prolonged contact with rats. Seoul virus is a type of hantavirus that can be transmitted from rats to people through bite wounds or exposure to urine, feces, saliva or contaminated bedding.
An outbreak of Seoul virus linked to pet rats had infected at least 13 people as of Feb. 15. The virus does not make rats sick, but people can become infected through exposure to infectious body fluids or bites from infected rats. Seoul virus is a member of the Hantavirus family of rodent-borne viruses and is carried in the wild by Norway rats. The investigation into the outbreak revealed additional people who tested positive for Seoul virus. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of Seoul virus.
collected by :Sandra Alex
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