When news broke in May 2026 of a hantavirus infection involving several passengers on a cruise ship that embarked from Argentenia , infectious disease experts around the world took notice.
While cruise ships experience outbreaks of diarrhea from time to time, due to norovirus, hantavirus is much more serious.
About a week after the cruise ship outbreak was first reported to the World Health Organization, there were 8 hantavirus cases with 3 deaths out of a ship with 147 people aboard.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare but dangerous virus carried by mice and other wild rodents. People can become infected after contact with rodent urine, saliva, droppings or contaminated dust particles in the air.
It was first discovered in the 1950s near the Hantan River in South Korea, after it sickened about 3,000 soldiers during the Korean War. Its first appearance in the U.S. was in 1993, when it caused a severe respiratory illness (hantavirus pulmonary syndrome) in the American Southwest.
How does hantavirus spread?
Outbreaks of Hantavirus in North America have been attributed to an exposure to a common source, originating from infected wild rodents. However, in South America the Andes variant can also be transmitted from person to person.
“It is important to know that there has not been any evidence of person to person spread of hantavirus in North America,” said Jonathan Pinsky, MD, an infectious disease physician at Endeavor Health.
“Hantavirus infection is very serious. There is no vaccine to prevent infection, and no antibiotic to treat the virus,” Dr. Pinsky said. “However, the chances of survival are greatly improved in developed countries with hospitals that can support the lungs, heart and kidneys when they fail.“
Depending on the viral strain, hantavirus can cause two syndromes:
- Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which is commonly found in the Western Hemisphere and is carried by the deer mouse.
- Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which is mostly found in Europe and Asia. There is a type of hantavirus, Seoul virus, that is found worldwide and can also cause HFRS.
HPS often begins with flu-like symptoms 1 to 8 weeks after exposure before progressing to breathing problems. Symptoms can include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Chills
- Vomiting, diarrhea
Late-stage symptoms of this syndrome appear 4-10 days after initial symptoms, and include coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath as lungs fill with fluid. Of those who develop respiratory symptoms, 38% die.
HFRS affects the kidneys and blood vessels, with initial symptoms usually appearing 1-2 weeks after exposure. Symptoms can include:
• Headache
• Back and abdominal pain
• Fever and chills
• Nausea
• Blurred vision
• Flushed face, eye redness or rash
Late stage symptoms of HFRS can include low blood pressure, internal bleeding and acute kidney failure.
How do you avoid hantavirus?
“The Andes hantavirus strain, found mainly in Argentina and Chile, is currently the only one known to spread from person to person after prolonged close contact,” Dr. Pinsky said.
There are steps everyone should take to reduce their risk and avoid illness:
- Avoid contact with rodent urine, droppings, saliva and nests. Carefully clean up any signs of rodents you find in or around your home.
- Avoid capturing wild rodents at pets
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