New Mexico has seen the highest quantity of hantavirus cases in the US (Image: CDC)
Health authorities are highlighting the risks of hantavirus following a cluster of infections aboard the MV Hondius that claimed three lives and sickened a number of others, demonstrating how quickly the illness can emerge and proliferate in close-quarters, high-contact settings.
The outbreak has sparked wider alarm as the U.S. strikes into its busiest travel and outside exercise period. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantaviruses are accountable for two separate symptom patterns found throughout the Western Hemisphere, together with the U.S., which might result in hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).
Across the U.S., deer mice function the foremost carriers of these infections. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) presents comparable scientific options and originates from hantaviruses primarily found in Europe and Asia. That mentioned, Seoul virus, a variant of hantavirus that causes HFRS, exists worldwide, together with throughout the U.S.
Hantavirus cases in the U.S.
Monitoring of hantavirus in the U.S. commenced in 1993, following a sequence of extreme respiratory cases that appeared in the Four Corners space, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet.
Three people have died aboard the MV Hondius (Image: -, AFP by way of Getty Images)
By 1995, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) grew to become a nationally notifiable situation, with incidents now tracked by way of the Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS), in accordance with the CDC.
The newest figures, present by way of the finish of 2023, point out that the U.S. has documented 890 cases of hantavirus illness since monitoring started in 1993. Among confirmed cases, 62% have been documented in male sufferers whereas 38% occurred in feminine sufferers. The illness proved deadly in 35% of reported cases.
New Mexico recorded the highest case rely at 129. Colorado adopted with 121, and Arizona reported 92. California logged 79 cases spanning 1993 by way of 2023, whereas Washington state documented 61 cases. Every different state tallied 50 cases or fewer.
This 1994 handout photograph from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) obtained on May 6, 2026, exhibits a {photograph} taken by way of a microscope of a liver tissue specimen that was extracted from a hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) affected person. Three people believed to have been contaminated with hantavirus have been evacuated from a cruise ship off Cape Verde and are being taken to the Netherlands, the WHO chief mentioned Wednesday, May 6, 2026. World Health Organization director common Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned that “the overall public health risk remains low” from the alert over the uncommon illness often unfold from contaminated rodents, usually by way of urine, droppings and saliva. (Photo by HANDOUT / US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / AFP by way of Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Handout” – HANDOUT – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Image: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/AFP by way of Getty Images)
How is hantavirus transmitted?
Human an infection with hantaviruses occurs primarily by way of publicity to rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, particularly from rats and mice. Though rodent bites and scratches can unfold an infection, these situations are uncommon.
What are the signs of hantavirus an infection?
The severity of hantavirus signs varies relying on which syndrome the contaminated particular person develops.
In HPS sufferers, signs floor within one to eight weeks and usually embrace exhaustion, fever, and muscle aches, particularly in giant muscle teams like the thighs, hips, and back, and typically the shoulders.
Around half of HPS sufferers expertise complications, dizziness, chills, and digestive issues, together with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and belly discomfort.
Four to 10 days following the initial sickness stage, late-stage HPS signs seem, together with coughing, breathlessness, and chest constriction as fluid builds up in the lungs. The severity of signs additionally will depend on the virus pressure. Cases involving Hantaan and Dobrava viruses usually current severe signs, with fatality charges reaching 5-15%. In distinction, Seoul, Saaremaa, and Puumala virus cases are typically considerably milder, with a mortality price of simply 1%.
