The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received several inquiries about an e-mail report of a stock clerk who became infected with hantavirus while working in a storeroom. According to the e-mail message, the infection resulted from exposure to dried rodent droppings that were contaminated with hantavirus. The e-mail message warns the reader to take precautions when handling items such as soda cans and grocery packages (for example, cereal boxes) because they may be contaminated with hantavirus.

The e-mail report is untrue. CDC could not substantiate this report of a hantavirus infection, nor has CDC been asked to participate in an investigation of the incident described in the e-mail.

Hantaviruses can cause a serious, often life-threatening disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS. The viruses are carried by certain species of mice and can be spread to humans by exposure to virus-contaminated rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.