90-Second Read: I’m a Doctor Who Treated Hantavirus in the 2012 Outbreak. 5 Things People Keep Getting Wrong

Public health officials emphasize Hantavirus rarely spreads between people. However, the type involved in the Hondius outbreak, according to the World Health Organization, is the Andes virus, the only known Hantavirus to spread between people. A 2018 Hantavirus outbreak in Argentina killed 11 people after the disease spread at crowded events, leading to 34 infections. Sometimes, getting a deadly infection may simply start with bad luck, being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

With Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, fever, muscle aches, headaches, dizziness, chills and nausea, can start one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent. Much like the ongoing battle with measles, Hantavirus presents another unique hurdle: Many doctors have never seen it. Check for recent local outbreaks, see if other recent travelers have reported issues, and learn the specific steps to keep yourself safe. That summer, 10 visitors contracted the virus from deer mice infesting the tent cabins in Curry Village.

Then, four to 10 days after this phase of illness, people develop more severe respiratory symptoms, like chest pain, shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs. HPS kills approximately a 38% of people due to respiratory symptoms. People may also discount their symptoms until the second phase of illness develops, when the infection has already progressed in the body to the lungs and kidneys. Respiratory decline in Hantavirus patients frequently requires intensive care because they often need a ventilator.

So even when your diagnosis is still uncertain, tell your doctor of any recent travel history and pest or animal exposure, even if it may not seem relevant. If you suspect you may have Hantavirus, it's crucial to seek care at a facility that has access to a ventilator and ECMO. The other set of symptoms is called hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).