A rare hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship traveling near Antarctica has alarmed scientists after several passengers became critically ill and three people died.
Experts say the incident demonstrates how quickly this rodent-borne disease can turn deadly.
The outbreak occurred aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew members.
The vessel had traveled through remote regions of the South Atlantic and Antarctica before health authorities isolated it near Cape Verde during the investigation.
Reports from the World Health Organization and infectious disease experts suggest the outbreak may involve Andes virus, one of the few hantavirus strains known to occasionally spread between humans.
Hantaviruses are viruses naturally carried by certain species of rats and mice. People usually become infected when they inhale tiny particles from rodent urine, saliva, or droppings.
In many cases, exposure happens inside cabins, sheds, campsites, storage buildings, or other places where rodents live.
According to health experts, hantavirus infections occur worldwide, but death rates differ by region and by virus strain.
Some strains mainly affect the kidneys, while others attack the lungs and cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, often called HPS.
The cruise ship outbreak appears linked to the pulmonary form of the disease, which can become extremely dangerous once breathing problems begin.
Experts from Northeastern University explained that the illness often starts with symptoms that seem mild and ordinary. Patients may initially develop fever, fatigue, stomach problems, headaches, or muscle pain.
However, the condition can suddenly worsen as fluid leaks into the lungs, leading to severe respiratory failure.
The first patient aboard the ship reportedly became sick only days after departing from Argentina. He later developed severe breathing problems and died.
His wife soon developed symptoms as well and later died in South Africa. Another female passenger also became ill and later passed away.
Additional passengers required hospitalization, including one patient placed in intensive care after evacuation from the ship.
Scientists suspect one passenger may have become infected during a shore visit in Argentina, where Andes virus is known to exist.
Because cruise ships involve prolonged close contact between passengers, experts believe the enclosed environment may have allowed rare human-to-human transmission.
This possibility is unusual because most hantavirus strains do not spread between people.
The outbreak has also renewed public interest in hantavirus infections more broadly.
In the United States, only a small number of cases are reported each year, but the disease still carries a high fatality rate.
The best-known U.S. strain is Sin Nombre virus, which is carried by deer mice in western states.
People involved in hiking, camping, or outdoor recreation may face higher exposure risk if they enter rodent-infested cabins or shelters.
Doctors working in wilderness and emergency medicine remain especially alert for hantavirus because delayed diagnosis can become fatal.
Unlike Andes virus, the Sin Nombre strain does not spread between humans.
Different hantavirus strains found in Europe and Asia can also cause a condition called hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which mainly affects the kidneys.
Currently, no vaccine or specific antiviral medication exists for hantavirus infection.
Doctors mainly focus on supportive medical care. Patients may require oxygen therapy, IV fluids, blood pressure medications, ventilators, or ECMO machines that temporarily support heart and lung function.
Because treatment options are limited, experts say prevention is the most important defense.
Health authorities recommend reducing rodent exposure by sealing buildings, storing food safely, and carefully disinfecting rodent-contaminated areas.
Experts warn people not to sweep or vacuum rodent droppings because this can release virus particles into the air.
Instead, contaminated surfaces should be cleaned using wet cloths, disinfectants, gloves, and protective masks.
The outbreak also highlights how global travel and remote tourism can complicate disease control.
Cruise ships create situations where passengers live in close contact for long periods, allowing illnesses to spread more easily if not detected quickly.
Scientists are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the outbreak and whether direct human transmission occurred aboard the ship.
Although hantavirus remains rare, health experts say the incident demonstrates how dangerous rodent-borne diseases can become when exposure occurs in isolated environments and early symptoms are mistaken for common illnesses.
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