Panic due to an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship
6 may 2026 в 20:13
The world has plunged into panic after three passengers on a cruise ship died from a suspected hantavirus outbreak earlier this month. This rare disease, associated with contact with rodents, has become a concern, especially among travelers this season. How can one contract this disease? Is there treatment or effective therapy for those who become ill?
Learn about hantavirus and why it has become a relevant topic.
Hantavirus is a rare and potentially life-threatening virus. If a person becomes infected with the virus, it can lead to serious conditions such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which typically begins with flu-like symptoms before progressing to severe respiratory issues.
Although hantavirus cases are rare, the disease can quickly become serious. The wife of actor Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, died in 2025 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). She was 65 years old.
He responded to an email from the ship’s operator informing passengers about the incident and contacted a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and… pic.twitter.com/4mmBd7qSA4
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 6, 2026
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantavirus is typically transmitted through direct contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. It can also be transmitted through a bite or scratch from a rodent, according to the CDC.
Hantavirus is rarely transmitted from person to person. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the Western Hemisphere is usually transmitted by deer mice.
The most common symptoms associated with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome include fatigue, fever, muscle aches in the thighs, hips, or back, dizziness, chills, and abdominal issues, according to the CDC.
Four to ten days after the initial phase of the virus, patients may develop late symptoms of the disease, including cough and shortness of breath. At this stage, fluid may accumulate in the lungs.
There is no specific treatment for hantavirus, nor is there a specific therapy. Patients diagnosed with the disease are advised to maintain hydration, rest, and possibly receive supportive care. If a patient has hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, they may require intubation.
According to the CDC, 38% of people who develop respiratory problems due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome may die from the disease
Learn about hantavirus and why it has become a relevant topic.
Hantavirus is a rare and potentially life-threatening virus. If a person becomes infected with the virus, it can lead to serious conditions such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which typically begins with flu-like symptoms before progressing to severe respiratory issues.
Although hantavirus cases are rare, the disease can quickly become serious. The wife of actor Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, died in 2025 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). She was 65 years old.
He responded to an email from the ship’s operator informing passengers about the incident and contacted a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and… pic.twitter.com/4mmBd7qSA4
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 6, 2026
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantavirus is typically transmitted through direct contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. It can also be transmitted through a bite or scratch from a rodent, according to the CDC.
Hantavirus is rarely transmitted from person to person. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the Western Hemisphere is usually transmitted by deer mice.
The most common symptoms associated with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome include fatigue, fever, muscle aches in the thighs, hips, or back, dizziness, chills, and abdominal issues, according to the CDC.
Four to ten days after the initial phase of the virus, patients may develop late symptoms of the disease, including cough and shortness of breath. At this stage, fluid may accumulate in the lungs.
There is no specific treatment for hantavirus, nor is there a specific therapy. Patients diagnosed with the disease are advised to maintain hydration, rest, and possibly receive supportive care. If a patient has hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, they may require intubation.
According to the CDC, 38% of people who develop respiratory problems due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome may die from the disease
© Artemenko Olga
