Early Symptoms of Hantavirus Infection to Watch For

Early hantavirus symptoms often resemble the flu, making the illness difficult to recognize at first. Symptoms usually appear one to eight weeks after exposure to infected rodents. Because the disease can worsen quickly, recognizing early warning signs is extremely important.

Symptoms usually appear 1–8 weeks after exposure. Early signs include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Nausea or vomiting

These symptoms can resemble flu or COVID-19 initially.

Image credit: AI-generated image created with Microsoft Copilot, May 10, 2026