This is Viewpoints Explained…
The recent Hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship has left many Americans with one question: Is this something we should be worried about? For most people, health officials say the answer is ‘no’. The strain involved is called Andes Hantavirus and is found across south America.
One reason this outbreak is getting so much attention is that Hantavirus can be deadly once someone’s infected. According to the centers for disease control and prevention, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is fatal in almost 40 percent of cases. But a high fatality rate doesn’t mean a high chance of catching it. Most hantavirus infections start with exposure to rodents. People can get sick after breathing in dust contaminated with rodent urine, droppings or saliva.
In this case, health officials believe the first infections may have started before passengers boarded the ship. A dutch couple is thought to have been exposed while traveling in South America, possibly during a bird watching visit near a landfill in Argentina. They then boarded the cruise and became symptomatic while onboard.
Some common early symptoms of Hantavirus are similar to what you’d get with the flu or a stomach bug: fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches or stomach problems. But in severe cases, it can move into the lungs and cause dangerous, or even deadly, breathing problems.
While experts say this is a very different situation than the Covid-19 pandemic, this cruise ship outbreak may be a sign that Hantavirus can spread faster in certain settings, like in the tight quarters and densely packed shared spaces of a ship. That doesn’t mean this outbreak is highly contagious, but scientists are nonetheless watching closely to ensure it stays that way.
Leave a Reply