Could hantavirus spread on a cruise ship? Experts weigh risks after deadly outbreak

A deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise vessel successful nan Atlantic has raised caller questions astir really nan rare, rodent-borne illness whitethorn person spread.

The outbreak has near astatine slightest 3 group dormant pinch 5 further suspected cases, arsenic nan World Health Organization investigates.

Although hantavirus is usually transmitted done interaction pinch infected rodent droppings, experts opportunity nan close quarters of nan vessel could person amplified nan risk.

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How hantavirus spreads

The microorganism is typically recovered successful rodent saliva, urine and feces, becoming airborne adjacent contaminated surfaces, according to Dr. Carrie Horn, main aesculapian serviceman astatine National Jewish Health successful Colorado.

A deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise vessel successful nan Atlantic has raised caller questions astir really nan rare, rodent-borne illness whitethorn person spread. (iStock)

While different viruses for illustration COVID-19 besides participate done inhalation, they originate from different person’s respiratory tract, she noted. In contrast, person-to-person hantavirus transmission is very unlikely.

"It astir often gets into nan aerial erstwhile nan rodent nest is disturbed, specified arsenic erstwhile being cleaned up. It is past inhaled into nan lungs," Horn told Fox News Digital.

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It is "technically possible" that nan microorganism could beryllium aerosolized (spread into nan air) done a ventilation system, nan expert said.

"It is besides imaginable that if a rodent infestation occurred and passengers tried to cleanable thing up, they could person go infected," Horn added. "This is very debased risk, but possible. It is besides imaginable that they were exposed disconnected of nan ship."

A wide position of nan cruise vessel MV Hondius stationary disconnected nan larboard of Praia, nan superior of Cape Verde, connected May 3, 2026. An outbreak of "severe acute respiratory illness" connected committee nan vessel has near 2 group dormant and a 3rd successful intensive care. (AFP via Getty Images)

Another option, she said, is that eating contaminated nutrient could origin disease, though that would beryllium little apt than breathing it in.

Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, reiterated that hantavirus could perchance dispersed connected a cruise vessel nether definite conditions.

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"It’s possible, either because location are infected mice connected nan vessel and group are being infected from those mice, aliases because of human-to-human contact transmission, which nan Andes strain has been antecedently demonstrated to beryllium tin of," he told Fox News Digital.

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He besides pointed retired that nan vessel had stopped successful South America and that nan lethality appears much accordant pinch strains from nan Americas.

"It astir often gets into nan aerial erstwhile nan rodent nest is disturbed, specified arsenic erstwhile being cleaned up. It is past inhaled into nan lungs," an master told Fox News Digital astir nan virus. (iStock)

Glanville cautioned that until it tin beryllium ruled retired that a much transmissible strain is involved, removing passengers from nan ship could airs risks.

"Otherwise, location is simply a mini but high-consequence consequence of creating a lethal world outbreak," he warned.

"This is simply a very different situation."

Historically, hantavirus has been "far little transmissible" than COVID-19, nan expert said. "Unless that changes pinch a caller mutant strain, nan consequence remains very debased to nan public."

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News elder aesculapian analyst, confirmed that hantavirus almost ever requires a rodent vector to spread, though uncommon cases tin hap done interaction pinch contaminated materials aliases bites.

Is nan nationalist astatine risk?

The experts agreed that nan consequence to nan wider nationalist is low. Siegel reiterated that group should "not beryllium very concerned."

Glanville noted that it’s still unclear whether nan cluster came from human-to-human transmission – "although fixed a imaginable Andes strain origin, that is simply a risk."

Although hantavirus is usually transmitted done interaction pinch infected rodent droppings, experts opportunity nan adjacent quarters of nan alloy could person amplified nan risk. (iStock)

"Even if it’s an Andes strain, historically transmission human-to-human is inefficient," he told Fox News Digital. "However, it is ever imaginable that a caller mutant tin originate that is capable to propagate much easy betwixt humans."

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If immoderate caller transmission cases are recovered from contacts who were not connected nan ship, nan business would go overmuch much concerning, according to Glanville.

"Hantavirus tin beryllium 30% to 50% lethal, has a agelong silent incubation play of 1 to six weeks, and has nan imaginable for droplet transmission," he warned.

Symptoms to watch for

Experts opportunity symptoms typically statesman pinch fever, musculus aches, fatigue and headaches, followed by cough, shortness of activity and, successful terrible cases, fluid buildup successful nan lungs. 

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These symptoms tin mimic flu-like illness, according to Horn.

"From there, it tin advancement to having problem breathing, needing oxygen and requiring hospitalization," she told Fox News Digital. "Some group tin person gastrointestinal issues arsenic well, specified arsenic vomiting and diarrhea."

"It tin impact nan heart, lungs and kidneys, causing each of them not to activity appropriately."

In utmost cases, nan microorganism tin origin terrible lung and cardiovascular disease, pinch a fatality complaint of 30% to 50%.

Experts work together that hantavirus poses a very debased consequence to nan wide nationalist — particularly for those not connected nan affected ship. (iStock)

"It tin impact nan heart, lungs and kidneys, causing each of them not to activity appropriately," Horn told Fox News Digital. "Infected group tin person problem maintaining their oxygen levels to nan constituent of needing to beryllium connected a ventilator aliases to get outer oxygenation support."

Because nan microorganism is rare, circumstantial consequence factors are not well-known, but wide wellness tin power outcomes, nan master added. Age whitethorn besides beryllium a factor, arsenic those who died connected nan cruise vessel were elderly.

Precautions for travelers

Experts counsel avoiding areas wherever rodents whitethorn beryllium coming — peculiarly dusty aliases enclosed spaces pinch signs of infestation — and not disturbing nests aliases droppings. If cleaning specified areas, wearing a filtered disguise tin thief trim risk.

Travelers should besides debar interaction pinch rodents and contaminated materials, while taking basal precautions for illustration handwashing, disinfecting surfaces and maintaining bully overall health.

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"This is simply a very different situation," Horn added, emphasizing that hantavirus poses a very debased consequence to nan wide nationalist — particularly for those not connected nan affected ship.