A cruise ship is currently stranded off the coast of West Africa after a suspected hantavirus outbreak killed three people and made several others very sick. Health officials have found a small number of confirmed and suspected cases of this rare virus on board.
This class of virus was first identified in the Hantaan River area in Korea. Mice and other rodents often carry the hantavirus. Humans can contract the disease when they come into contact with infected rodents or their saliva, urine, and droppings.
Hantavirus was first recognized in the United States in 1993 (see “A mouse story”) and has since been identified throughout the country. Although rare, the disease is potentially deadly, especially if it involves the kidneys, heart, or lungs.
