Hantavirus: What is it and how does it spread?

In recent days, there have been headlines about a hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship.

Vancouver is a major cruise port with nearly 360 cruise calls expected in 2026 from March through September. That’s 1.4 million passengers that will step off a boat and pass through Vancouver’s Canada Place this season, beating the city’s 2024 record by five per cent.

So if you’re coming or going on a cruise ship this season, should you be worried about hantavirus?

Here’s an explanation of what hantavirus is, why it’s in the news, and what you need to know.

What is hantavirus and what are some of the symptoms?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, abbreviated as HPS, is a severe illness caused by the hantavirus.

The symptoms are similar to those of a flu-like illness, with symptoms beginning about two to three weeks after exposure to the virus. Those symptoms include:

• fever
• sore muscles
• headaches
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea and abdominal pain

In the later, more serious stages of the disease, symptoms can grow to include fluid buildup in the lungs, causing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

How is hantavirus spread?

The virus is spread through wild mice, but mostly only deer mouse, which are commonly found across North America.

The virus spreads when particles from the droppings, urine, saliva, nesting materials from an infected rodent are disturbed and become airborne, where it can be inhaled. Though rare, the disease can spread if you have been bit by a mouse and the virus enters through a break in the skin.

There had previously been little evidence that the disease spreads from person to person, and you can’t catch the disease from your household pet. Health officials have emphasized that person-to-person spread requires close contact in enclosed quarters.

Who is most at risk and is it fatal?

You are most at risk of being exposed to hantavirus if you spend time in settings where there may be rodent droppings:

• Work: This means those who clean unused buildings, work in construction and demolition, utility and pest control are all at risk of exposure for hantavirus.
• Home: For homeowners, this means crawl spaces, under houses, cottages, trailers and garden sheds where mice may take refuge and leave droppings.
• Outdoors: Anyone who spends time hiking or camping should be mindful of exposure if they are using trail shelters or in areas where deer mouse may live.

“The chance of being exposed to hantavirus is higher if you work, play or live in closed spaces where deer mice are living actively,” according to B.C. Health Link.

Within North America, one in three people with HPS have died.

How do I prevent hantavirus?

The best way to prevent hantavirus infection is to avoid contact with deer mice and their droppings, urine or saliva. Keep them out of your home and safely clean the areas where they may have setup nests. When hiking or camping, keep your food in rodent-safe containers and avoid sleeping on bare ground.

To remove potentially infected mice from your home or to clean the droppings:

1. Wear a property fitted, specialized filter mask (not just a dust mask for painting), rubber gloves and goggles.
2. Avoid stirring up dust and be sure to ventilate any enclosed area for 30 minutes before starting.
3. Pour, don’t spray, a disinfectant solution onto the droppings and let it soak for 10 minutes.
4. Wipe up any droppings or nest material with a paper towel and place in a plastic garbage bag. Avoid sweeping and vacuuming.
5. Double bag the garbage, seal it and bury, burn or trash, depending on local bylaws.
6. Be sure to shampoo or steam carpets, washing clothing and bedding with hot water and detergent, and disinfect floors, counters, cabinets and drawers where mice may have frequented.
7. Wash your gloves with disinfectant before removing and wash your hands again after removal.

Is there a treatment for hantavirus?

There is no treatment, medication or cure for hantavirus, though the symptoms caused by HPS can be treated.

Those with hantavirus will need to be admitted to hospital for intensive care and likely provided oxygen and, in some cases, antiviral drugs.

Are cruise ships still safe right now and is this the next COVID?

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, said hantavirus is “not the next COVID but it is a serious infectious disease.”

“Most people will never be exposed to this,” she said this week.

sip@postmedia.com

This article was originally published in the Vancouver Sun on May 6, 2026.