Here’s what Texans should know about hantavirus after cruise ship outbreak
A hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship near Africa has left three people dead, according to the World Health Organization.
Passengers from several states, including Texas, were among those who returned home from the ship after potential exposure to the virus, according to MedPage Today.
While the illness is considered rare, Texas has reported hantavirus cases over the years, with 49 cases documented in the state since 1993, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health officials say hantavirus symptoms can take weeks to appear after exposure.
Here’s what Texans should know.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a disease spread by rodents through their urine, droppings or saliva, according to the CDC.
People can get sick after breathing in contaminated particles that get stirred into the air, especially while cleaning or spending time in places where rodents have been active, like sheds, garages, barns, cabins and storage areas.
The outbreak tied to the cruise ship involves the Andes strain of hantavirus, which health officials say is one of the few known strains capable of spreading from person to person.
Experts say that type of transmission is rare and usually involves prolonged close contact, like caring for someone who is infected or sharing tight living spaces.
Deer mice are the rodent most commonly linked to hantavirus cases in the United States, according to the CDC.
Hantavirus infections linked to deer mice can progress to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS, a severe lung disease that can be deadly.
What are the symptoms of hantavirus?
Early hantavirus symptoms can look a lot like the flu, according to the CDC. They usually start with a fever, headaches, chills, muscle aches and fatigue.
Some people may also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.
The CDC says symptoms usually begin one to eight weeks after exposure to an infected rodent.
As the illness worsens, more severe symptoms can develop, like coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath as fluid builds up in the lungs.
Many people with HPS are hospitalized once breathing problems begin, and severe cases can quickly become life-threatening.
Because symptoms can worsen rapidly, the CDC recommends seeking medical care if you develop flu-like symptoms after exposure to rodents or rodent waste.
How can I protect myself from hantavirus?
Avoiding contact with rodent urine, droppings, and saliva is the best ways to lower the risk of hantavirus infection, according to the CDC.
That includes sealing holes around the house, storing food in rodent-proof containers, setting traps and clearing away clutter or brush where rodents may nest.
You should also be cautious when opening or cleaning spaces where rodents may have been active.
The CDC recommends spraying droppings with disinfectant or a bleach solution before cleaning them up, instead of sweeping or vacuuming.
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM.
