Why experts say the hantavirus outbreak is not another COVID-19 - Poynter

"Hantavirus typically spreads among rodents like rats and mice. Certain strains can infect humans who inhale aerosolized rodent feces and urine particles. But not all mice carry the virus. The common house mouse, for example, does not. Deer mice are responsible for the rare cases of U.S. hantavirus - less than 900 from 1993 to 2023, almost all in the Western states."

"Rodent-to-human transmission is possible with several strains, but scientists have only documented person-to-person transmission with one, the Andes strain. It was behind two outbreaks in 1996 and 2018 in Argentina, in addition to the current outbreak."

"Although epidemiologists are still investigating the origins of the cruise ship's outbreak, the World Health Organization said a passenger aboard the ship likely acquired it while visiting the country prior to boarding."

"Unlike COVID-19 or influenza, hantavirus doesn't spread easily among people. "In those reports of human-to-human spread that we have, it's usually prolonged, close or even intimate contact that allows transmission," said Dr. Emily Abdoler, a University of Michigan Medical School clinical medicine professor."

Hantavirus is primarily spread among rodents, with humans typically infected by inhaling aerosolized particles from rodent feces and urine. Not all rodents carry the virus; for example, the common house mouse does not, while deer mice are linked to most U.S. cases. Rodent-to-human transmission can occur with several strains, and person-to-person transmission has been documented only for the Andes strain. The World Health Organization indicated a passenger likely acquired the virus during travel before boarding the MV Hondius. Hantavirus does not spread easily among people, and documented human-to-human transmission usually requires prolonged, close, or intimate contact. Some strains have high mortality rates, but evidence suggests limited mutation and spread.

Read at Poynter