Palouse region
Coverage of Palouse region in the Nexus archive.
- High hantavirus levels found in rodents in parts of US — suggesting greater exposure risk: study
A study has identified high levels of hantavirus in rodents in parts of the United States, indicating increased exposure risk for residents. The Palouse region, spanning eastern Washington and north-central Idaho in the Pacific Northwest, shows the biggest prevalence of the virus.
- Hantavirus exposure risk may be higher than believed in parts of US, study finds
Researchers at Washington State University discovered unexpectedly high levels of Sin Nombre virus (hantavirus) in rodent populations in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest, with nearly 30% of sampled rodents showing prior exposure and 10% having active infections. The findings suggest greater hantavirus exposure risk in surrounding agricultural communities than previously believed. The study was published in 2026 in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a CDC peer-reviewed journal.