What Is Hantavirus? The Deadly Disease Raising Alarm Worldwide

A hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship off South Africa has renewed concern about a rare rodent-borne infection.

Hantavirus spreads mainly by inhaling particles from contaminated rodent waste and can cause severe lung or kidney failure.

Early symptoms are often nonspecific, making diagnosis difficult and allowing the disease to worsen quickly.

There is no approved antiviral treatment; care is mainly supportive, which makes prevention and early detection critical.