What Is the Hantavirus?

The World Health Organization has announced that passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship have likely been infected with the hantavirus via person-to-person transmission, which is rare but does happen with the Andes strain of the virus.

So, what is the hantavirus? It's a complicated question and answer, but experts are explaining the details about this deadly virus.

The WHO has confirmed that this particular outbreak is caused by the Andes strain, which is in South America and transferred by the pygmy rice rat species or rodent. As of Thursday, May 7, of the around 150 passengers on the ship, eight of them have tested positive for the virus, according to the WHO, and three people have died.

What Is the Hantavirus?

According to research from Harvard Health, the hantavirus was first found in the Hantaan River area in Korea.

"Mice and other rodents often carry the hantavirus," Harvard states in their report. "Humans can contract the disease when they come into contact with infected rodents or their saliva, urine, and droppings."

They add that hantavirus first came to the U.S. in 1993 and is in the country, but usually only transferred via rodents.

How Do You Get Hantavirus?

According to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hantavirus is usually spread by rodents via exposure to their urine, droppings or saliva and a scratch or bite.

But, the World Health Organization notes that the Andes virus is able to spread from person to person in close contact.

"Our assumption is they were infected off the boat and then joined the cruise," Maria Van Kerkhove, an American epidemiologist and technical adviser to the WHO, told reporters via NBC News. "However, we do believe that there may be some human-to-human transmission that's happening among the really close contacts, the husband and wife, people who've shared cabins, etc."

Hantavirus Vaccine: Is One Available?

There is currently no widely approved vaccine for hantavirus that's available on a large scale. That's another reason containment is important.

Hantavirus Mortality Rate: Is It Deadly?

According to Harvard, "although rare, the disease is potentially deadly, especially if it involves the kidneys, heart, or lungs."

What makes it more complex is that the incubation period, which Harvard says is "the time between when a person is infected and when they begin to experience symptoms," is usually two to three weeks, but it can be up to eight weeks. That means people can be walking around for weeks transferring the virus to others not knowing that they have it.

According to the World Health Organization, the death rate from hantavirus varies depending the type of disease it causes. It can cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, "a severe respiratory illness, with a case fatality rate up to 50%," the WHO states.

Hantavirus Treatment: Is There One for the Virus?

According to a report from Harvard, "there is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection," although an antiviral drug called ribavirin is given for a type of the hantavirus that causes kidney failure. They add that "people who recognize signs of the infection early and promptly receive care may fare better than those who wait longer before seeking care."

Hantavirus is real, but rare, so it's worth staying alert without spiraling. Awareness is important, and as the days and weeks go on, the experts will have more information about how this particular outbreak impacts the rest of the world.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 7:02 PM.