Eyewitness News asked the medical experts about a virus that is sparking concern across the world: hantavirus.
Eyewitness News asked the medical experts about a virus that is sparking concern across the world: hantavirus. Global health authorities are working to contain an outbreak of hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
To date, three people who were aboard the ship are known to have died of the virus. Health officials in multiple states say they're monitoring some passengers who have returned to the U.S. after being aboard the ship for potential hantavirus infections.on Thursday with New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, Acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Raynard Washington, and ABC's Medical Correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton, but t hey also touched on rising hantavirus concerns.
Many people fear that this outbreak may turn into the next COVID pandemic. McDonald said that's not the case.
"It's a known disease with known recommendations," McDonald said. "It's not very contagious. COVID was spread airborne, but this is spread by close, personal contact, like a husband to a wife close personal contact.
" The disease, McDonald said, is more common in Argentina and Chile and there is no known risk to New York State. "We're working with the World Health Organization and CDC to really make sure we know and we're being vigilant to make sure New York is protected," McDonald said. "We're making sure we're monitoring the situation," Washington said. "Though it does sound a little bit scary, the risk right now is quite a bit low.
" The origin of hantavirus comes from rats and since it's unfamiliar, it can be scary. Marza asked Sutton what it is, what the symptoms are, and what caused so many issues aboard the cruise ship.
"It's so important to understand that this viral infection is causing concern because of the risk of fatality, or risk of death, from getting this infection," Sutton said. "It can be as high as 40%. " Sutton, agreeing with McDonald, said this infection is difficult to get. The majority of hantavirus strains, he said, don't allow the infection to pass from person-to-person.
This one strain of hantavirus, the Andes strain infecting people on the cruise ship, can cause person-to-person exposure and contagiousness from prolonged contact.
"One of the reasons why we're seeing it on a cruise ship, cruise ships are spaces where there is a lot of high touch surfaces...there's a lot of opportunity for viruses to spread," Sutton said. The general population risk, Sutton said, still remains low, even in New York City. Although the city has a rodent problem, 96% of cases that have occurred in the country have been west of the Mississippi.
"Although we have a rodent issue that we always talk about in New York City, that does not necessarily mean that that comes with hantavirus," Sutton said. Sutton said places with rodents are where you want to increase your protection and that can mean including wearing a very high quality mask.
"Masks can protect you from many different things, not just hantavirus, but also other viral infections," Sutton said. And, if you're getting on a cruise ship this summer, Sutton said the chances of getting hantavirus is still low. Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below.
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