90-Second Read: Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak: What We Know So Far

Although the current Hantavirus outbreak has infected 11 people and claimed the lives of three, experts emphasized that the risk for the general public remains low. In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship. 1 In the late 1970s, researchers identified the first Hantavirus, known as Hantaan virus, and recognized it as the causative agent of HFRS, a disease that caused an outbreak nearly 25 years earlier during the Korean War.

As of May 12, 11 cases of the disease have been reported, with nine confirmed as Hantavirus infections by testing; the other two are suspected cases. Even though Hantavirus infections can be deadly, reported cases are rare. In the US, 890 cases of Hantavirus disease were reported from 1993 to 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The New World Hantaviruses are distributed across the Americas and cause Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), as was reported on the cruise ship. As for the current outbreak on the cruise ship, Fleming emphasized that tracking potentially infected passengers and monitoring them for symptoms are essential steps now. During the month that ensued, passengers began to exhibit signs of severe respiratory illness, which claimed the lives of three of the nearly 150 people onboard.