by SHAYLYNN MARKS
A hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship in April has sparked concern around the globe, but a local health expert says the average Florida resident does not need to panic.
As of May 18, published reports listed three deaths and 11 total cases linked to the outbreak, with exposed passengers and crew members under monitoring or quarantine. The cases involve Andes hantavirus, a strain that has drawn attention because it can spread between people and has a fatality rate of roughly 38 percent.
Still, Dr. Lindsay M. John, an infectious disease specialist in Lakeland, says the overall risk remains low, especially in Florida.
“With respect to Florida residents specifically, the risk is extremely low as there are currently no reported active cases in the state,” he says.
The Florida Department of Health says it is closely monitoring the ongoing outbreak and is ready to work with returning residents to monitor their health, if necessary.
Dr. John points out that Florida has had only three confirmed cases since national tracking began in 1993, and all three people survived. The state’s known rodent carrier is the hispid cotton rat, which carries a hantavirus strain known as Black Creek Canal virus and is commonly found in habitats including sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, and tropical hammocks.
How Hantavirus Usually Spreads
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses carried by certain wild rodents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people are most often infected when they breathe in virus particles from the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents. Less commonly, infection can occur through bites, scratches, or direct contact with contaminated material.
That means hantavirus is usually tied to specific exposure conditions, such as cleaning an infested shed, entering a closed-up cabin, working around rodent-contaminated areas, or disturbing droppings without proper precautions.
“One of the myths or common misconceptions is that you can get hantavirus infection from the common house mouse,” John says. “This is not true.”
Different hantavirus strains are associated with different rodents and regions. In the United States, most reported cases historically have occurred in western states, especially areas where deer mice can carry Sin Nombre virus. In South America, Andes virus is found primarily in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
Why the Cruise Outbreak Raised Concern
Health agencies identified Andes virus in the cruise ship outbreak.
“The Andes strain … is unique in that it is the only hantavirus strain to our knowledge that can cause human-to-human transmission between close contacts,” John says.
That distinction gives the cruise outbreak a different public health profile from the hantavirus strains more common in the United States.
“The risk of transmission from person to person is much lower than other contagious viruses such as COVID-19,” John explains.
Cruise ships drew attention because people may share cabins, meals, excursions, and medical spaces over several days. John says person-to-person spread with Andes virus is linked to prolonged exposure and close proximity rather than brief public encounters.
The incubation period also complicates monitoring. John says symptoms typically appear two to three weeks after exposure, but the window can stretch much longer.
“Medical literature shows that typically a period of two to three weeks elapses between exposure and the first symptoms, but the incubation period can be up to seven to eight weeks,” he adds.
Symptoms Not To Be Ignored
Many early symptoms of hantavirus can look like other viral illnesses. John says patients may first experience fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and headaches. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, may also occur.
“A distinct clue that differentiates it from other viral illnesses is the absence of a sore throat, runny nose, or a rash, which usually are not features of Hantavirus infection,” he explains.
For most people, a random cough or fever is far more likely to point to a routine illness. Hantavirus becomes a concern when symptoms follow a known risk, such as cleaning a rodent-infested space or having close contact with someone confirmed to have the Andes strain of the virus.
Some patients can progress to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory illness that can worsen quickly and require intensive care.
According to John, “Some patients can very quickly deteriorate in a matter of hours to days.”
With no specific antiviral medication available, care depends on recognizing the risk early and getting severely ill patients the right level of treatment.
Prevention Without Panic
With no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment for hantavirus, John says the focus shifts to reducing exposure before illness occurs.
“Prevention is the most effective measure against hantavirus infection,” he says.
CDC prevention guidance focuses on avoiding unsafe contact with rodent droppings, nests, urine, and saliva. People should not sweep or vacuum rodent-contaminated areas because that can stir particles into the air. Instead, public health agencies recommend ventilating the area, wearing gloves, and using disinfectant before cleanup.
John says general hygiene also remains useful, especially while traveling. Hand-washing and hand sanitizer can reduce many common infections, though hantavirus prevention depends most on avoiding and safely cleaning rodent-contaminated spaces.
John reflects on how the world has faced several emerging infectious disease threats in recent years, including COVID-19, Ebola, Zika and avian flu. Hantavirus is another reminder of how much public health preparedness matters.
“We need to be better informed, equipped and prepared to meet these challenges,” John says.
A clear understanding of how hantavirus spreads can help families take rodent exposure seriously while staying grounded in facts rather than fear.