Following news of the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, searches for "hantavirus" have surged dramatically. Here is a clear, factual guide to what the disease is and what you need to know.
Hantavirus is a family of RNA viruses carried primarily by rodents โ most commonly deer mice in North America. People get infected primarily through inhaling dust contaminated with infected rodent urine or faeces. Crucially, in North American strains, person-to-person transmission does not occur.
The most serious form, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, begins with flu-like symptoms that develop within one to five weeks of exposure. In roughly a third of cases, these progress to severe respiratory distress. The case fatality rate is approximately 38%, though prompt hospital care significantly improves outcomes. HPS is rare โ the US records fewer than 40 cases per year on average.
Hantavirus is a genuine health risk in specific environments โ primarily rural settings with significant rodent exposure. For most urban and suburban residents, the risk is extremely low. โ US CDC