Hantavirus: Symptoms, causes, and recent outbreak explained

A serious incident recently occurred on a cruise ship where three people died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak. 

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents; they are transmitted to humans through inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent droppings.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantaviruses cause two significant serious illnesses. The first affects lungs and can lead to severe respiratory failure. 

Conversely, the second- hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome-attacks on kidneys resulting in serious health complications.

The virus spreads through contact with infected rodents or their urine, saliva and droppings. While it is primarily animal-to-human, the World Health Organization notes that hantaviruses can also spread directly between people. 

According to Australian virus researcher Paul Griffin, approximately 150,000 to 200,000 hantavirus infections are identified globally each year.

“Early in the illness, you really may not be able to tell the difference between hantavirus and having the flu,” says Dr Sonja Bartolome of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Initial symptoms resemble the flu, including fever, chills, muscle pain, and headache. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) typically appears 1-8 weeks after exposure, causing severe breathing issues as the lungs fill with fluid. 

In contrast, HFRS primarily targets the kidneys, potentially leading to internal bleeding, low pressure, and acute kidney failure. 

Fatality rates heavily depend on the strain; HPS is fatal in approximately 35% of cases, while HFRS mortality rates range between 1% to 15%. 

Because there is no specific treatment or vaccine, patients rely on supportive care such as oxygen, ventilators or dialysis. To stay safe, it is essential to minimize contact with rodents and their waste. 

Always use gloves and bleach when handling droppings. Never sweep or vacuum dropping, as this can aerosolize the virus making it easier to inhale. 

Public health concerns have risen following a suspected outbreak aboard the MV Hondius. Additionally, Betsy Arakawa (wife of Gene Hackman) passed away in Santa Fe in February 2025 due to HPS, after evidence of rodent activity was later discovered on her property.