Sin Nombre virus is the primary cause of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in North America. It was identified in 1993 during the Four Corners outbreak — the first recognized HPS event in the Americas — and named for the lack of a clear toponym at the time of discovery (sin nombre = without a name).
| Reservoir host | Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) |
| Geographic range | United States, Canada, Mexico — particularly the U.S. Southwest, Pacific Northwest and Sierra Nevada |
| Disease syndrome | Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) |
| Case fatality rate | ~36% |
| Vaccine | None licensed in most countries |
| Specific treatment | None. Supportive care. |
Sin Nombre virus is the primary cause of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in North America. It was identified in 1993 during the Four Corners outbreak — the first recognized HPS event in the Americas — and named for the lack of a clear toponym at the time of discovery (sin nombre = without a name).
SNV does not transmit person-to-person. All known cases trace to direct or aerosol exposure to deer mouse excreta, typically in cabins, sheds, agricultural buildings, or rural homes where deer mice have been active.