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FACTS about the hantavirus outbreak
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QuickProfile™ HANTAVIRUS IGG/IGM COMBO TEST (HFRS TEST)
A Rapid qualitative Immunochromatographic test for the simultaneous detection of IgG and IgM Antibodies to Hantavirus in human serum or plasma
Recent Hantavirus Outbreak Key Facts (WHO & CDC Summary)
- The recent hantavirus outbreak has been linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, involving passengers from multiple countries.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of early May 2026 there were confirmed and suspected cases of hantavirus infection, including several deaths.
- WHO reported that the outbreak is suspected to involve the Andes hantavirus strain, one of the few hantaviruses known to allow limited person-to-person transmission.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the overall risk to the general public in the United States remains very low.
- CDC is monitoring travelers returning to the United States from the affected cruise ship, including individuals in California, Arizona, and Georgia.
- Hantaviruses are primarily transmitted through exposure to infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Human-to-human spread is considered rare.
- Symptoms may initially resemble influenza, including fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and headache, but severe cases can rapidly progress to respiratory distress.
- WHO and CDC emphasized the importance of:
- Rodent control and sanitation
- Early identification of symptoms
- Contact tracing and monitoring of exposed individuals
- Infection prevention measures during travel and healthcare response
- WHO clarified that this outbreak is not considered the start of a pandemic, as hantavirus does not spread easily between people like respiratory viruses such as COVID-19.
- CDC historical surveillance data indicate that hantavirus infections remain rare in the United States, with fewer than 900 reported cases since national tracking began in 1993.