A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a small cruise ship has drawn worldwide attention after three passengers died and several others became seriously ill.
Health experts say the outbreak is a reminder that although hantavirus infections are rare, they can become deadly very quickly if not recognized early.
The outbreak happened on the MV Hondius, a cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew members. The ship had traveled through remote areas including Antarctica and Ascension Island before becoming isolated near Cape Verde while health authorities investigated the illness.
According to experts from Northeastern University and the World Health Organization, hantavirus is a group of viruses mainly carried by rodents such as rats and mice. Humans usually become infected after coming into contact with rodent urine, saliva, feces, or contaminated dust particles.
The virus exists in many parts of the world, but different strains can cause different illnesses and vary greatly in severity.
Neil Maniar, director of Northeastern University’s public health program, explained that once someone becomes infected, the illness can progress rapidly. Early symptoms often resemble common flu symptoms, which can make diagnosis difficult during the early stage.
Patients may first experience fever, headaches, tiredness, stomach pain, diarrhea, or muscle aches. However, the illness can suddenly become much more severe.
Joshua Merson, who specializes in extreme medicine, said the most dangerous stage occurs when the virus causes blood vessels to leak. This allows fluid to build up in the lungs and can lead to severe breathing failure.
The passengers aboard the cruise ship reportedly experienced symptoms including fever, pneumonia-like illness, breathing problems, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
The first known patient developed symptoms only a few days after the cruise departed from Argentina. His condition worsened rapidly, and he later died from respiratory distress. His wife became ill shortly afterward and later died in South Africa. Another woman later became sick and also passed away.
Several additional passengers became seriously ill, including one patient who required intensive care treatment after evacuation from the ship.
Scientists suspect the outbreak may involve the Andes virus strain of hantavirus. Unlike most hantavirus strains, Andes virus has occasionally been shown to spread directly from person to person.
Experts believe one passenger may have become infected during a shore excursion in South America before unknowingly spreading the virus within the closed environment of the cruise ship.
This possibility has made the outbreak especially concerning because most hantavirus infections are linked only to rodent exposure.
In the United States, hantavirus infections are relatively rare, with only around 20 to 50 cases reported annually. However, the disease still carries a high death rate.
The most dangerous American complication is called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS, which attacks the lungs and can quickly become life-threatening.
One of the most common U.S. strains is called Sin Nombre virus. It is carried by deer mice and is mainly found in western states.
People may become infected after breathing in tiny virus particles from rodent waste, especially in cabins, campsites, sheds, or buildings where rodents live.
Unlike Andes virus, Sin Nombre virus does not spread from person to person.
Hantavirus also gained public attention last year after the death of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman. Health officials later determined that she died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome after possible exposure to rodent contamination on her property.
Currently, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral cure for hantavirus.
Doctors mainly provide supportive treatment such as oxygen, IV fluids, blood pressure support, ventilators, and advanced machines that help patients breathe if lung failure becomes severe.
Because treatment options are limited, prevention remains extremely important.
Experts recommend sealing buildings against rodents, storing food properly, and safely cleaning rodent droppings using disinfectants rather than sweeping or vacuuming, which can spread virus particles into the air.
Wearing gloves and masks during cleanup is also strongly advised.
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius also highlights how infectious diseases can spread rapidly in isolated environments such as cruise ships, wilderness tourism routes, and remote travel locations.
Scientists continue to investigate the exact source of the outbreak and whether human-to-human transmission occurred.
Even though hantavirus remains uncommon, health experts say the incident serves as an important reminder that rare infectious diseases can still pose serious dangers, especially when early symptoms resemble ordinary illnesses.
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Source: Northeastern University and World Health Organization.
