Rice Fields, Black Rats, and a Hidden Killer: Madagascar’s Hantavirus Threat

Rats have long been notorious for spreading disease, but a new study reveals just how much human-altered landscapes can influence their viral payloads. Researchers investigating Madagascar’s forests and farmlands discovered that black rats — an invasive species — are the sole carriers of a dangerous hantavirus strain. Surprisingly, while these rats thrive in agricultural settings [...]

from SciTechDaily https://ift.tt/qzX7ZcL