Which disease is contracted by human contact with rodent waste and has about 50% mortality?

• A. Hanta Virus
• B. Histoplasma
• C. Ebola
• D. Rabies

Answer: (A)

Rodent waste exposure transmits hantavirus, typically through inhaling aerosolized particles from urine, droppings, or saliva. This infection can progress to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which has historically carried mortality around 50%, though outcomes vary with strain and how quickly it’s treated. The illness often begins with flu-like symptoms and can rapidly worsen to severe breathing problems.

Histoplasma is a fungus acquired mainly from bird or bat droppings and soil; it causes histoplasmosis with a different transmission route and generally lower mortality with proper care. Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, not rodent waste, and has its own high—but unrelated—transmission pattern. Rabies is typically transmitted by bites from infected animals, not by exposure to rodent waste.