Hantavirus is on Canadians’ radar, but concern is not evenly shared across the country. While 83% of Canadians say they have heard of hantavirus, overall concern remains relatively contained: 38% of those aware of the virus say they are concerned, while 59% are not.
The national average masks important differences: concern rises significantly among Canadians aged 18 to 34, where 52% say they are concerned, and among Ontarians, at 42%.
Younger Canadians Are Driving the Concern Gap
Canadians aged 18 to 34 are significantly more likely to be concerned about hantavirus than older Canadians, with concern dropping to 35% among those aged 35 to 54 and 32% among those aged 55 and older. This suggests that younger Canadians may be more alert to emerging infectious disease risks, a dynamic that echoes broader post-pandemic shifts in how people assess health threats.
Concern Is Shaping Behaviour
Among those who have heard of hantavirus, 52% have taken at least one action, most often paying closer attention to news or public health updates, looking up how the virus is transmitted, or researching symptoms. This behaviour is even stronger among concerned Canadians, 77% of whom have taken at least one action. Younger Canadians also stand out, with 66% of those aged 18 to 34 taking action. For reliable public health information, Canadians can consult the Government of Canada’s hantavirus resources and the CDC’s hantavirus prevention guidance.
Understanding the Risk Remains a Challenge
Only 48% of Canadians who have heard of the virus correctly identify breathing in dust particles from rodent droppings as the most common route of transmission, while 33% believe infection most commonly occurs through close contact with an infected person.
This matters because misconceptions can amplify perceived risk, particularly among groups already more likely to be concerned. The World Health Organization’s hantavirus fact sheet and the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases’ overview offer additional context on transmission, prevention, and public health response.
Methodology
This Leger survey was conducted online among 1,511 Canadians aged 18 or older, from May 15 to May 18, 2026. Respondents were randomly recruited through LEO, Leger’s online panel, and could complete the survey in English or French.
The results were weighted by age, gender, mother tongue, region, education, and presence of children in the household to ensure a representative sample of the Canadian population. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error no greater than ±2.52%, 19 times out of 20.
For more context on how Canadians have navigated pandemic-era concerns, see Leger’s past surveys on the state of the pandemic and interacting with the healthcare system during and after the pandemic.
