Articles & Explainers

Hantavirus is a family of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe — and often fatal — respiratory illness in humans. Here is everything you need to know: how it spreads, what symptoms to watch for, and why the 2026 cruise ship outbreak has put it in the global spotlight.

Most hantaviruses can only be caught from rodents. Andes virus is the dangerous exception — it has been documented spreading directly from person to person in rare cases. We explain the science behind why, and what that means for the MV Hondius outbreak.

The first confirmed hantavirus outbreak in the United States killed 13 people in the American Southwest in 1993. Since then, hundreds of cases have been recorded globally every year. Here is the full timeline of major outbreaks and what we have learned from each one.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome progresses in distinct stages — and early recognition is the difference between life and death. This article walks through the incubation period, early warning signs, the critical cardiopulmonary stage, and current supportive treatment options.

A Dutch cruise ship departing Ushuaia, Argentina in April 2026 became the site of the most internationally visible hantavirus outbreak in history. We break down the full sequence of events, the science of how passengers were likely exposed, and the global public health response.