Ontario County Investigates Suspected Hantavirus Case Amid Public Concerns
Ontario County in New York is currently investigating a suspected case of locally acquired hantavirus, as announced by Kate Ott, the county's public health director. This investigation is not linked to the recent outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship, which resulted in three deaths and at least 11 infections. The public health department decided to issue a press release due to the heightened public concern fueled by social media and the ongoing cruise ship outbreak. Hantavirus infections are rare in New York, with only a few cases reported since 1995. The virus is primarily spread through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, and saliva, which can become airborne during cleaning activities. The release emphasized that most hantaviruses in the U.S. do not spread from person to person, with the exception of the Andes virus, which is found in South America.