90-Second Read: Hantavirus outbreak: Who is most at risk of catching the deadly virus?

While Hantavirus respiratory infections may still be rare in the U.S., they can be incredibly deadly. The strain of Hantavirus involved in the recent outbreak on the MV Hondius ship is called Andes virus. Because rodents are the most common vector, people who come into frequent contact with them are at highest risk of catching a Hantavirus. In recent weeks, it's caused even more concern following an outbreak among passengers and crew on a cruise ship.

The World Health Organization and other public health officials caution against comparisons to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the virus spread more easily through respiratory droplets. Public health experts caution against sweeping or vacuuming, which can cause virus particles to get into the air. Aside from HPS, the Hantavirus can also cause something called hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which can cause bleeding, high fever, and kidney failure. The virus, which has been around for hundreds of years, received renewed attention last year when it was blamed for the death of Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman.

About 38% of people who develop respiratory symptoms die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's more typical for the virus to spread through rodents, most commonly through the droppings, urine and saliva of rats and mice. However, once someone is infected with the Andes virus strain and starts developing symptoms, they may be contagious. Person-to-person transmission is so rare, people shouldn't panic about catching it as they socialize or travel, doctors say.

Scientists suspect the virus could be transmitted through small liquid particles that blow out of an infected person when they talk, cough or sneeze. This usually develops within a week or two after exposure, and is less deadly than HPS. Four to 10 days after those first symptoms, people may experience a worsening in their condition as lungs fill with fluid.