What is hantavirus: A suspected hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship has killed three passengers and sickened others, while health officials say the wider risk to the public remains low.
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare but serious rodent-borne illness. It usually spreads when people breathe in particles from contaminated rodent urine, droppings or saliva, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas.
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Possible Source Under Investigation
Investigations into the cruise ship cases are still underway. Officials in Argentina suspect some passengers may have been exposed during a birdwatching trip in Ushuaia, at the southern tip of the country.
Evidence so far points to the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus found in South America.
Why Public Risk Remains Low
Hantavirus does not spread easily between people. However, the Andes virus strain is considered a possible exception in cases of close and prolonged contact.
Health officials say this is a serious infection, but not one likely to cause widespread person-to-person transmission.
Symptoms Can Begin Like the Flu
The illness can start with fever, chills, body aches and headache. In some patients, it can progress quickly, causing breathing trouble as fluid builds up in the lungs.
Symptoms may appear weeks after exposure, making it harder to trace the source.
Early Care Matters
There is no specific cure for hantavirus, but early medical care can improve the chances of survival.
How to Reduce Risk
Experts say the best protection is to avoid contact with rodents and their droppings. When cleaning areas where rodents may have been present, they advise using gloves and disinfectant instead of sweeping or vacuuming, which can push contaminated particles into the air.