New York Post
Global hantavirus surveillance
Everything you need to know about the Hantavirus outbreaks.
HantaRadar aggregates hantavirus reports from WHO, ECDC, CDC, RKI, and ProMED. We explain the virus, its symptoms, and what actually prevents exposure.
Latest updates
All updates In the last 72 hours
WRDW
Ga. health officials monitor 2 who traveled on cruise ship with hantavirus outbreak
NPR Alert
About 40 passengers previously left ship hit by Hantavirus at island of St. Helena
WHO Emergency
Hantavirus on MV Hondius confirmed as Andes virus
Expert · Dr Charlotte Hammer, University of CambridgeGiven the incubation period of one to eight weeks, an initial infection before boarding the ship of some or all affected individuals seems likely.Expert · Prof Paul Hunter, University of East AngliaThe finding of the Andes variant strengthens the hypothesis that the initial cases were acquired in Argentina.Expert · Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, University of OxfordWith these public health measures rigorously in place, the risk of onward transmission to the wider community should be essentially zero.Expert · Dr Michael Head, University of SouthamptonThere have been documented cases of human-to-human transmission from the Andes strain.News · WHOAndes orthohantavirus confirmed on MV Hondius. Eight cases, three deaths.News · Africa CDCMulti-country cluster monitored. Hondius departed Ushuaia 20 March.
Pillar topics
Eight guides covering everything
Each guide cites official sources and links to the next logical question. Start anywhere.
What is hantavirus
Virus family, reservoirs, geography, and the two main syndromes in plain terms.
Read moreSymptoms and warning signs
Early flu-like phase and the shift to severe disease, with timelines.
Read moreHow it spreads
Aerosol from rodent excreta is the main route. Person to person is rare.
Read moreTest and diagnosis
ELISA, RT-PCR, and what to ask for if you suspect exposure.
Read morePrevention guide
Exclusion, safe cleanup, and the protocol that breaks the chain.
Read moreHPS vs HFRS
Two faces of hantavirus disease, compared by region, organ, and severity.
Read moreRodent control
What works long term: exclusion, trapping, and habitat reduction.
Read moreOutbreak history
From Korea 1951 to Yosemite 2012 and recent Andes virus clusters.
Read more Stay protected
Gear that actually helps
The items frequently recommended in CDC, ECDC, and RKI cleanup guidance. Pricing varies by region.
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Respiratory protection
NIOSH N95 Particulate Respirator (20-pack)
NIOSH-certified N95 respirator filtering 95% of airborne particles. Minimum recommended protection for brief exposure during cleanup in rodent-infested areas.
Respiratory protection
3M 8233 N100 Particulate Respirator
N100-rated respirator filtering 99.97% of airborne particles. Recommended for extended cleanup work or heavily contaminated spaces where hantavirus exposure risk is elevated.
Protective gear
Microporous Disposable Coverall with Hood (3-pack)
Type 5/6 microporous full-body coverall with attached hood. Provides barrier protection against dry particles and light liquid splashes during hantavirus cleanup. Dispose after each use.
Disinfection
Clorox Commercial Clean-Up Disinfectant Cleaner
EPA-registered disinfectant cleaner. CDC recommends a 1:10 bleach-water solution for surfaces contaminated with rodent droppings, urine, or nesting material.
Pest control
Heavy-Duty Snap Rat Trap (6-pack)
High-sensitivity snap traps for mice and rats. Place along walls in active rodent paths. Reusable, easy to set without direct bait contact, and more effective than glue traps.
Pest control
Copper Mesh Rodent Exclusion Screen
Corrosion-resistant copper mesh for permanently sealing gaps and entry points. Rodents cannot chew through copper. Cut to size, pack into openings, and secure with caulk.
Air filtration
Blueair Blue Pure 211+ HEPA Air Purifier
HEPASilent dual-filtration for rooms up to 550 sq ft. Run during and after cleanup to reduce airborne particles. Captures 99.97% of particles 0.1 microns and larger.
Air filtration
Dyson Cordless Vacuum with HEPA Filtration
Whole-machine sealed HEPA filtration captures and contains 99.97% of particles. Unlike standard vacuums, the sealed system prevents aerosolized rodent excreta from escaping back into the air.
Active outbreak
The MV Hondius cruise ship hantavirus cluster, explained
A luxury vessel that left Argentina in late March is now anchored off Cape Verde with a confirmed Andes virus outbreak. Three passengers have died. WHO is investigating possible person to person transmission, an extremely rare feature of this strain.
- Vessel
- MV Hondius
- Confirmed strain
- Andes virus
- Reported cases
- 8
- Deaths
- 3
Timeline
- 6 May Andes strain confirmed. Spain authorises Canary Islands docking. Swiss case raises total to eight.
- 5 May Cape Verde refuses docking. Hondius anchors off Praia.
- 4 May WHO publishes Disease Outbreak News. Three deaths confirmed.
- 2 May WHO notified. PCR confirms hantavirus.
- 26 Apr Second death after disembarkation. Body transferred to South Africa.
- 11 Apr First death aboard the vessel.
- 6–28 Apr Illness onset among passengers and crew. Fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, rapid pulmonary deterioration.
- 20 Mar MV Hondius departs Ushuaia, Argentina, bound for the Canary Islands via Cabo Verde.
Live data
Sources we monitor
Auto-pulled from official surveillance feeds and aggregated news. Each item links back to its original source.
7 updates in the last 30 days · latest · auto-pulled every 3h
Latest updates
Recent outbreak reports
Newest items from all monitored feeds. The MV Hondius cluster has dominated coverage in the last 72 hours.
Today11:35
Today, 11:35New York Post
Flight attendant hospitalized after coming in contact hantavirus cruise ship passenger who died
Today09:19
Read article
Today08:44
Today, 08:44NPR
Alert
About 40 passengers previously left ship hit by Hantavirus at island of St. Helena
May 62026
May 6, 2026WHO
Emergency
Hantavirus on MV Hondius confirmed as Andes virus
May 62026
May 6, 2026ProMED
Alert
Spain agrees to dock the Hondius in the Canary Islands
May 62026
May 6, 2026ECDC
Alert
Swiss hospital reports eighth Hondius-linked case
What is hantavirus
A rodent-borne virus with two clinical faces
Hantaviruses are RNA viruses carried by mice, rats, and voles. People are exposed when virus particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva become airborne. Severity ranges from mild flu-like illness to lethal pulmonary or kidney disease.
The virus does not spread like the flu. Person to person transmission is documented only for the Andes virus in southern South America. Everywhere else, the chain runs from rodents to humans, and breaking that chain is what prevention does.
Read the full guideAt a glance
- Family
- Hantaviridae
- Reservoir
- Rodents
- Main syndromes
- HPS and HFRS
- Incubation
- 2 to 4 weeks
- Vaccine
- Limited regional
When was the last hantavirus update in your region?
Our news feed covers WHO, ECDC, CDC, RKI, ProMED, PAHO, and Google News in one place. No login, no email required.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The most-searched hantavirus questions, answered. See the full FAQ for 40+ more.
How is hantavirus transmitted?
By inhaling aerosolised dust from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. The virus does not spread through ordinary respiratory droplets. Person-to-person transmission is documented only for Andes virus, originally in southern Argentina and Chile, and currently under investigation in the 2026 MV Hondius cruise ship cluster.
What are the early symptoms of hantavirus?
Fever, severe muscle aches in the thighs and back, headache, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms. After 4 to 10 days, severe shortness of breath (HPS) or kidney pain (HFRS) develops.
Can hantavirus kill you?
Yes. HPS in the Americas is fatal in around 38 percent of cases. Severe HFRS from Hantaan virus has mortality up to 12 percent. Mild Puumala HFRS in Europe is rarely fatal.
Can hantavirus spread person to person?
Almost never. Only Andes virus has documented person-to-person transmission. The 2026 MV Hondius cruise ship cluster, with confirmed Andes virus cases occurring far from the natural rodent reservoir, fits this pattern and is being investigated by WHO as a probable second well-documented chain of human-to-human spread.
How long after exposure do symptoms appear?
Typically 1 to 8 weeks, with most cases developing symptoms 14 to 28 days after exposure. The delay makes connecting symptoms to the original exposure difficult without a clinical history.
How is hantavirus prevented?
Seal entry points, store food in rodent-proof containers, never sweep or vacuum dry droppings, and use an N95 or higher respirator plus a 1:10 bleach disinfectant for cleanup work.