Hantaviruses are a group of viruses mainly carried by certain rodents. In the United States this includes some rats and mice. Hantavirus infection can cause different syndromes.
Hantavirus spreads by breathing in infected rodents' saliva, urine, droppings, or nesting materials that are in the air. It is rare that a rodent bite could cause hantavirus. It is typically not spread from person to person.
Brucellosis is a disease caused by Brucella bacteria. People can get brucellosis from infected animals or contaminated animal products. Both domestic animals (dogs, cats, livestock, etc.) and wild animals can have brucellosis.
Brucellosis spreads from animals to humans in several ways. These include:
Anthrax is a disease caused by the bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. It occurs naturally in soil around the world. It can infect people, domestic animals, and wild animals.
People get infected when they:
Ebola is a disease caused by ebola viruses. Most of the viruses that cause ebola are in sub-Saharan Africa. Ebola viruses spread through direct contact with the body fluids (including blood, sweat, vomit, feces) of an ill or dead person infected with ebola virus. Ebola is NOT spread through the air and a person can only spread the virus when they are having symptoms.
Outbreaks of ebola viruses occur from time to time. Learn more about ebola outbreaks in the world.
About 14 different tick species live in Maine, but not all of these ticks bite people. The two most common species of tick seen in Maine are the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis). In Maine, deer ticks can carry germs that cause several illnesses. These include:
Rabies is a disease caused by a virus. It affects the brain and spinal cord. Rabies can cause death if left untreated. Rabies in people is very rare in the United States, but rabies in animals - especially wildlife - is common in most parts of the country, including Maine. We call an animal with rabies a rabid animal.
Overseas travelers should learn about current risks and how to prevent mosquito bites during their trip. Mosquitoes spread viruses and parasites not common or present in the continental United States, such as:
About 45 different species of mosquitoes live in Maine. About half of these mosquitoes can carry the germs that cause illness in humans, but not all bite people. Mosquitoes in Maine can carry viruses that can cause several illnesses. These include:
