Hi Samuel, Max, Oscar and Kevin!
Because rodents infect each other by spreading the virus through urine, saliva, feces and/or possibly biting, the virus keeps circulating in the rodent populations. In the Netherlands, yearly approximately 50 patients are diagnosed with hantavirus infection. That is a relatively small number of patients, and could mean that you don’t know anyone personally who has suffered from this infection. Infections are more likely to occur in areas where more wild rodents are present in nature, such as the region of Twente.
Good luck,
Danny
