Here’s what Texans should know about hantavirus after cruise ship outbreak

Passengers aboard a cruise ship near Africa found themselves at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has now killed three people, according to the World Health Organization.

The outbreak involved travelers from more than 20 countries and left several others sick during the voyage.

While the illness is considered rare, Texas has also 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 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.

Health officials say infections are often tied to enclosed spaces like sheds, garages, barns, cabins and storage areas where rodents may be nesting. In rarer cases, the virus can also spread through a rodent bite or scratch.

The CDC says deer mice are the rodent most commonly linked to hantavirus cases in the United States.

Hantavirus infections in the U.S. are most often connected to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS, which affects the lungs and can become 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.

As the illness worsens, infected people can develop more severe symptoms like coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath as fluid builds up in the lungs.

The CDC says symptoms usually begin one to eight weeks after exposure to an infected rodent.

Many patients with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome 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 someone develops flu-like symptoms after possible 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, including sheds, barns, cabins, attics and storage buildings.

The CDC recommends spraying droppings or nesting materials with disinfectant or a bleach solution before cleaning them up, instead of sweeping or vacuuming.