Hantavirus, a rare disease typically caused by exposure to infected rodents’ urine or feces, is suspected in the deaths of three people following an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, reports BritPanorama.
One hantavirus case has been confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO), with five more suspected cases currently under investigation. The MV Hondius cruise ship was traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde, a group of islands off the coast of West Africa.
Initially, hantavirus can resemble flu symptoms, including fatigue, fevers, chills, and body aches. However, as the virus progresses, it can lead to severe shortness of breath, organ failure, and even death as it damages vital organs such as the heart and lungs.
While the WHO has stated that there is no cause for alarm and the risk to the general public remains low, experts are seeking to understand how the disease could have spread onboard the cruise ship.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus refers to a strain of viruses transmitted via rodents through their bodily fluids and excrement.
Humans often become infected when they inhale particles from dried rodent droppings, particularly when cleaning up rodent nests and causing airborne particles. The most prevalent hantavirus in the United States is linked to the deer mouse.
Infection can also occur by touching contaminated objects and then the mouth or nose. Rarely, hantavirus can be spread through rodent bites or scratches. Only the Andes strain, native to South America, is known for person-to-person transmission, and that occurs infrequently.
What are hantavirus symptoms?
Hantaviruses can lead to two types of severe illnesses.
The hantaviruses found in Europe and Asia may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), affecting the kidneys. Symptoms can initially include headaches, abdominal pain, and nausea, potentially evolving into low blood pressure, internal bleeding, and acute kidney failure, with a fatality rate of 5-15% according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms typically manifest one to two weeks following exposure.
In the Americas, hantaviruses lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). This form begins with flu-like symptoms as well but may evolve into significant respiratory issues with patients experiencing shortness of breath and chest tightness as their lungs fill with fluid. The CDC notes that nearly 40% of patients with respiratory symptoms may die from HPS, with symptoms taking one to eight weeks to develop after exposure.
Is there a cure for hantavirus?
There is no specific treatment for hantavirus, as per the CDC. Care typically includes hydration, rest, and management of individual symptoms.
This underlines the importance of prevention. The CDC advises that the best method of protection against hantavirus is minimizing rodent access to homes—by sealing gaps, securely storing food, and using robust containers for garbage.
For cleaning up rodent droppings, it is recommended to wear gloves, spray the droppings with a bleach solution, wait for five minutes, and then carefully wipe the area with paper towels for safe disposal.
How common is hantavirus?
Approximately 60,000 to 100,000 cases of HFRS occur globally each year, with China accounting for around half of these cases, according to a 2024 study.
From 1993 to 2023, the CDC recorded 890 hantavirus disease cases in the United States, primarily in western states.
Interest in hantavirus surged last year following the death of Betsy Arakawa, the wife of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, from HPS at age 65. Public health records indicated the presence of dead rodents and nests on their property in New Mexico.
Details of how this recent outbreak occurred remain uncertain. Dr. Charlotte Hammer, an epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge, identified several potential scenarios, including rodents hitching a ride on the ship and the possibility of infection from a prior port visit in Argentina.
A human-to-human transmission is considered very unlikely at scale. Dr. Scott Miscovich, a family physician and president of Premier Medical Group, stated the ship needs thorough viral sampling to clarify how the disease spread.
Investigations are ongoing, with the WHO confirming that virus sequencing is part of their efforts to understand this outbreak better.
The situation highlights ongoing public health challenges associated with zoonotic diseases, underscoring the need for vigilance and proactive measures as the world confronts emerging health threats.
