CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP)—At least three people in Venezuela died after contracting hantavirus, the health ministry said Tuesday, as it ruled out human-to-human transmission of the rare disease.

There is no specific treatment for the respiratory virus that is typically spread by rodents and far less commonly between people.

Three people with a “confirmed hantavirus diagnosis” died in the northeastern state of Anzoategui, Venezuela’s health ministry stated, adding that “there is no scientific evidence of human-to-human transmission in our country.”