Amid the recent hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, health experts are now considering the possibility of Americans encountering the virus in everyday environments without even realizing it. The rare Andes strain, which was linked to the cruise ship outbreak, is the only known hantavirus capable of spreading from person to person, typically through prolonged close contact with an infected individual.
Most hantavirus cases in the U.S. are concentrated in the desert southwest and along the west coast, according to Dr. Linda Yancey, an infectious disease specialist. The Bayou strain, native to east Texas and west Louisiana, is less infectious in humans compared to the western Sin Nombre strain.
Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents, especially deer mice, and their urine, droppings, or saliva. People can become infected by inhaling contaminated particles or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their nose or mouth. Less commonly, rodent bites can also spread the virus.
Health officials emphasize that exposure is most likely when cleaning enclosed or poorly ventilated areas where rodents may have nested unnoticed for weeks or months. Risky locations include garages, sheds, cabins, attics, barns, crawl spaces, storage units, stables, kitchen cabinets, and spaces behind appliances. Rodents can also nest in unused cars, RVs, campers, and boats, posing a risk when these areas are reopened.
The National Park Service notes that most human cases of hantavirus occur in the spring and are linked to buildings heavily infested with rodents over the winter. Opening buildings that have been unused for extended periods, sweeping dusty floors, or moving and unpacking boxes can increase the risk of inhalation.
Dr. Yancey advises wearing a mask and using a diluted bleach solution to wet down any dust or loose debris when cleaning structures that may have harbored rodents. This helps kill the virus and reduce infectious dust. However, the CDC recommends against vacuuming or sweeping rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials, as this can aerosolize the virus and increase the risk of inhalation.
Instead, health officials suggest wearing gloves, soaking rodent droppings with disinfectant, wiping them up with paper towels, properly disposing of waste, and thoroughly cleaning surfaces, followed by careful handwashing. Signs of rodent activity include droppings, shredded nesting materials, gnaw marks, strong musky odors, and scratching sounds in walls or ceilings.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a Fox News senior medical analyst, notes that hantavirus is not commonly encountered in daily life in the U.S. and is more prevalent in certain parts of Europe and Asia. He emphasizes the importance of avoiding overpersonalization of the risk associated with a rare virus.
