With a recent hantavirus cluster reported on a cruise ship making global headlines, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided key details on this virus in its latest fact sheet.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are a group of viruses belonging to the family Hantaviridae. They naturally infect rodents such as rats, mice, and voles without causing illness in the animals. Humans get infected accidentally when they come into contact with the virus from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Different strains of the virus cause varying diseases depending on the region. In the Americas, they often lead to Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS), a severe respiratory illness. In Europe and Asia, including parts of India, they typically cause Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), which mainly affects the kidneys and blood vessels.
Globally, hantavirus infections are relatively uncommon but can be serious. The WHO estimates that 10,000 to over 1 lakh infections occur worldwide each year, with the highest burden in Asia and Europe. Case fatality rates range from less than 1 per cent to 15 per cent for HFRS and can reach up to 50% for HCPS in the Americas.
Recent Context: Cruise Ship Outbreak In early May 2026, a cluster of hantavirus cases was reported on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship (MV Hondius) in the Atlantic. As of May 4, seven cases (two confirmed and five suspected) were identified, including three deaths. This has brought renewed global attention to the virus, though WHO has stated that the wider public risk remains low as transmission is mainly rodent-related and not easily person-to-person.
How does Hantavirus spread?
The primary mode of transmission is through contact with infected rodents or their excreta.
Common ways include:
- Inhaling aerosolised particles when cleaning dusty areas, storerooms, or farms.
- Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.
- Rarely, through rodent bites or scratches.
Activities such as farming, forestry work, or staying in rodent-infested houses increase the risk. Importantly, hantavirus does not spread easily between humans. Human-to-human transmission has been documented only with the Andes virus in South America and remains very rare. In India, sporadic cases have been reported over the years in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of the Northeast, mostly linked to rural rodent exposure. No major outbreaks have occurred in the country so far.
Symptoms of Hantavirus infection
Symptoms usually appear between one to eight weeks after exposure and initially resemble a common flu:
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Muscle aches and back pain
- Chills and fatigue
- Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
- Dizziness
As the disease progresses:
- In HCPS: Coughing, shortness of breath, fluid buildup in the lungs, low blood pressure, and shock.
- In HFRS: Low blood pressure, bleeding tendencies, and acute kidney failure.
Early symptoms can be mistaken for dengue, Covid-19, leptospirosis, or influenza. Thus, a history of rodent exposure is crucial for diagnosis.
Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
Diagnosis involves blood tests to detect antibodies or viral RNA. There is no specific antiviral drug or vaccine available.
Treatment is supportive and includes oxygen therapy, fluids, blood pressure management, and intensive care if needed.
Early hospitalisation significantly improves survival rates.
Prevention is the most effective strategy and focuses on rodent control:
- Keep homes, godowns, and workplaces clean and rodent-free.
- Seal cracks and holes in buildings.
- Store food in airtight containers.
- When cleaning potentially contaminated areas, wear masks and gloves, wet the droppings with disinfectant instead of sweeping dry, and maintain good hand hygiene.
- Avoid sleeping in rodent-infested shelters.
India-specific advisory
While the current cruise ship incident poses negligible risk to Indians, people experiencing fever, breathing difficulty, or kidney-related symptoms after possible rodent contact should seek immediate medical help.