What to know about hantavirus, the illness suspected in a cruise ship outbreak
Hantavirus explained: a rare rodent-borne infection causing severe lung or kidney disease, now linked to deaths aboard a Netherlands-based cruise ship.
Three people have died and three others are ill after a suspected hantavirus outbreak struck a Netherlands-based cruise ship, authorities and media reports said Sunday. According to the World Health Organisation, hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents and, in rare cases, between people.
Infection most often occurs when the virus in rodent droppings, saliva, or urine becomes airborne, such as when areas where rats and mice have nested are swept out.
According to The Lancet medical journal, the name comes from the Hantan River area of South Korea, where the virus was identified in the 1970s.
Can be fatal
Hantavirus is a family of viruses that cause two illnesses, one that primarily affects the lungs and the other that attacks the kidneys. The first gets the most attention because it has a high fatality rate of about 40%.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the respiratory illness, is most commonly found in North and South America.
According to the Canadian government, about 200 cases of hantavirus pulmonary illness occur each year worldwide.
Concert pianist Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in New Mexico in 2025, according to autopsy results.
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What are the symptoms?
Hantavirus usually begins with flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and fever, one to eight weeks after exposure, according to the CDC.
Four to 10 days later, coughing, shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs appear.
Diagnosis in the first 72 hours of infection is difficult, the CDC says, so symptoms can easily be mistaken for flu.
What to do and how to prevent it
There is no specific therapy for hantavirus infection, so treatment focuses on supportive care including rest and fluids. Patients may need breathing support such as a ventilator.
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Experts say exposure to hantavirus can be minimized by deterring and eliminating rodents from areas where people are. Avoid vacuuming or sweeping dried droppings, which can aerosolize the virus.
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