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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An outbreak of hantavirus aboard a cruise ship has resulted in the deaths of three passengers and has left several others ill.
Health officials from around the globe assert that the risk to the general population is minimal, as the virus does not easily transmit between humans. Maria Van Kerkhove, director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness at the World Health Organization, emphasized the seriousness of the disease while downplaying its potential for widespread transmission, stating, “Most people will never be exposed to this.”
Transmission and Investigation
The hantavirus primarily spreads through inhalation of particles from contaminated rodent droppings. These viruses, believed to exist globally, have been present for centuries. The recent outbreak has drawn attention, particularly following the death of Betsy Arakawa, wife of the late actor Gene Hackman, from a hantavirus infection last year in New Mexico.The World Health Organization is conducting thorough investigations into the cruise ship outbreak, which includes additional laboratory tests to identify the source of exposure. According to two officials from Argentina, who requested anonymity, the initial infections are suspected to have occurred during a birdwatching trip in Ushuaia, located at the southern tip of the country.
Evidence of the Andes virus, a South American variant of hantavirus, has been discovered during these investigations.
Understanding Hantavirus Spread
Hantavirus is mainly transmitted through contact with rodents or their bodily fluids, particularly when these materials are disturbed and become airborne. Human exposure typically occurs in homes, cabins, or sheds, especially during cleaning activities in poorly ventilated spaces or in areas with mouse droppings.While rare, the World Health Organization notes that hantaviruses can also spread directly between people. Steven Bradfute, an associate professor at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, highlighted that the Andes virus may have the potential for person-to-person transmission, although such instances would require close contact, such as sharing food or a bed.
Bradfute stated, “We haven't had huge person-to-person spreads of hantavirus infection ever before, and there's no reason to suspect a huge outbreak from this case at this point.”
Global Hantavirus Infections
Globally, hantavirus infections remain relatively uncommon. The World Health Organization reported that in 2025, eight countries in the Americas documented 229 cases and 59 fatalities. Argentina’s health ministry indicated that hantavirus was responsible for 28 deaths nationwide last year.In the United States, federal health officials began monitoring the virus following a significant outbreak in 1993 in the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah converge. The first indications of a hantavirus outbreak came from a physician with the Indian Health Service who observed a pattern of unexplained deaths among young patients.
Most cases in the U.S. occur in Western states, with New Mexico and Arizona identified as hotspots, likely due to increased interactions between humans and rodents in rural areas.
Symptoms and Prognosis
Hantavirus infections can escalate rapidly and may become life-threatening. Initial symptoms often include fever, chills, muscle aches, and headaches, resembling flu-like conditions. Symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome typically appear one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent. As the illness progresses, patients may experience chest tightness as their lungs fill with fluid.The other syndrome caused by hantavirus, known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, can lead to severe bleeding, high fever, and kidney failure, usually developing within one to two weeks after exposure.
According to the CDC, the fatality rate for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is approximately 35%, while the death rate for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome ranges from 1% to 15%.
Challenges in Treatment and Research
Currently, there is no specific treatment or cure for hantavirus infections, but early medical intervention can enhance survival chances. Despite extensive research efforts, many questions remain unanswered, such as the variability in severity among infected individuals and the development of antibodies.Bradfute remarked, “In the Americas, hantavirus infection is very serious, but it's also quite rare. And so for a time that probably led to less research into it because of funding priorities, but I know there's been a lot of interest in funding hantavirus work of late.”
Preventative measures focus on minimizing contact with rodents and their droppings. Public health experts recommend using protective gloves and a bleach solution when cleaning droppings, cautioning against sweeping or vacuuming, which can aerosolize virus particles.
Diverse Hantavirus Strains
The term hantavirus encompasses a wide array of viruses with different strains found in various countries. Most strains do not transmit from person to person, except for the variant found in South America, which is under scrutiny due to its potential link to the cruise outbreak, as the voyage began in Argentina.Angela Luis, a hantavirus researcher at the University of Montana, emphasized the importance of thorough investigations to ascertain the details of the outbreak and to clarify whether human-to-human transmission is possible.
“My guess is we’re going to learn a lot from this,” Luis stated.
