NEW DELHI, May 12: Following the outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organisation said it has now confirmed 11 cases, including three people from the cruise who died.
The director of WHO said all 11 confirmed cases are among passengers or crew of the MV Hondius cruise ship, including three people who died. Nine of the 11 cases have been confirmed as the Andes virus.
“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak,” he added, “but of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.”
So what exactly is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare but severe respiratory illness that can cause severe bleeding, fever and even death.
The virus is spread by rodents, such as mice and rats, mainly through the urine and droppings of infected animals.
Hantavirus does not typically spread from person to person. However, in rare cases it may spread between people.
Globally, there are an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 cases of hantavirus each year.
It is less contagious than airborne viruses such as COVID and influenza, as it typically does not spread from person to person.
What makes hantavirus so deadly?
There are two main types of hantavirus, each with different symptoms.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which affects the lungs, is mainly found in the United States. If a person becomes infected with this type of hantavirus, within days they will likely experience coughing and shortness of breath.
As the illness progresses, they can develop symptoms such as fatigue, fever and muscle aches. They may also get headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. This is the most deadly kind of hantavirus. Tragically, about 38% of people who develop these symptoms die from the disease.
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is mainly found in Europe and Asia, but the strain known as the Seoul virus has spread around the world. This form of hantavirus mainly affects the kidneys.
People usually develop symptoms within two weeks of being exposed to this virus. Early symptoms include severe headaches, abdominal pain, nausea and blurred vision. More advanced symptoms include low blood pressure, internal bleeding and even acute kidney failure. This disease can be caused by different viruses and some are more deadly than others, meaning between 1% and 15% of cases can be fatal.
Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment or cure for either type of hantavirus. However, early medical treatment may increase a person’s chance of survival. This can include using respirators, oxygen therapy and dialysis.
Authorities are still investigating which type of hantavirus the passengers were exposed to.
So, how worried should we be?
In 2025, eight countries in the Americas reported 229 cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), with a high mortality rate of 25.7% (59 deaths).
19 cases were reported in France between January and March 2026.
Thousands of cases of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) occur annually in China and South Korea.
Although alarming, cases of hantavirus remain are extremely rare. But it can look similar to other respiratory illness, so you should always get symptoms checked. If you’ve been in regions where the virus is found and experience shortness of breath, fever or any other flu-like symptoms, see your doctor. (Agencies)
