Everything You Need to Know About Hantavirus

A cruise ship sailing the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Verde reported a hantavirus outbreak after a series of respiratory illnesses on board were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).¹ As of May 4, 2026, there are 7 cases (2 laboratory-confirmed cases of hantavirus and 5 suspected), including 3 deaths, 1 critically ill patient, and 3 individuals reporting mild symptoms.¹

The World Health Organization maintains that the risk is low but urges the public to take precautions, considering the seriousness of the disease.¹

Here is everything you need to know.

1. What Is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus refers to a family of viruses carried by rodents that can be fatal. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a respiratory disease caused by hantavirus through exposure to infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. It is primarily spread through inhalation of airborne particles or contact with contaminated materials.²

Although rodents are largely responsible for the spread of hantavirus, the World Health Organization reports there may be cases of human transmission aboard the ship.¹

There are multiple strains of hantavirus, each with varying severity. In North America, the deer mouse is the primary reservoir, and the strain it carries has a mortality rate of 30% to 50%.²

2. What Are the Symptoms of HPD?

HPD is characterized by influenza-like symptoms that rapidly progress to more severe disease that may cause life-threatening lung and heart complications.²

Symptoms of hantavirus typically start about 2 to 3 weeks after infection and advance through 2 stages. The most common signs in the first stage include fever and chills, muscle aches, headache, and potentially gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.²

In the second stage, the disease can lead to damaged lung tissues, fluid build-up, and compromised lung and heart function. These result in cough, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, and irregular heart rate.²

3. How Long Can Hantavirus Survive On Surfaces?

Hantavirus can survive in the environment for varying lengths of time depending on temperature, humidity, sun exposure, and even the infected rodent’s diet. At normal room temperature, the virus remains infectious for about 2 to 3 days. Sunlight shortens its viability, while freezing temperatures extend it. Because the virus survives only hours to days outside a host, human infection generally requires an active, ongoing infestation of infected rodents nearby.⁴

4. How Is HPS Treated?

Treatment options are limited, and the best protection against HPS is to avoid contact with rodents. There is currently no specific antiviral drug approved for the treatment of hantavirus infection. Patients who are diagnosed early and receive intensive care tend to have better outcomes.³

Supportive care—such as oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation to assist breathing—is the primary form of treatment. In severe cases, patients may require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.³

5. Should the Public Be Concerned About Hantavirus?

For most, the risk of contracting hantavirus remains low. The virus is not transmitted person to person, except for one rare strain, and infection requires direct exposure to infected rodents or their droppings, urine, or saliva. However, certain groups face a higher risk, particularly those who live in or spend time in rural or wooded areas, work in agriculture, or encounter rodent infestations in enclosed spaces such as cabins, barns, or storage facilities.

Public health officials do not consider hantavirus a widespread public health threat, but they emphasize that individual cases can be severe and even fatal. The key to prevention is awareness and precaution.

REFERENCES

1. Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel, multi-country. WHO. May 4, 2026. Accessed May 5, 2026. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON599

2. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Mayo Clinic. April 30, 2025. Accessed May 4, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351838#complications

3. Aikman I. Hantavirus may have spread between passengers on cruise ship, WHO says. BBC. May 5, 2026. Accessed May 5, 2026. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2p186gyp2o

4. Hantavirus fact sheet. Pennsylvania Department of Health. February 4, 2013. Accessed May 4, 2026. https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/diseases-and-conditions/Hantavirus%20.pdf