Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease caused from rodents. Humans can contract the disease when they come into contact with infected rodents or their urine and droppings. HPS was first recognized in 1993 and has since been identified throughout the United States. Although rare, HPS is potentially deadly. Rodent control in and around the home remains the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus infection. Avoid contact with fresh rodent urine, droppings, saliva, and nesting material. The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) is the primary reservoir of the hantavirus that causes HPS in the United States.