12 | CFHN
centralfloridahealthnews.com
NEWS
Hantavirus  
Outbreak
Lakeland Infectious Disease Doctor  
Says Risk to Florida Residents Is Low
by SHAYLYNN MARKS
A
hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hon-
dius cruise ship in April has sparked con-
cern 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 
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
JOHN

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