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Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship raises alarm over airborne rodent exposure
International
Published on 5 May 2026
Airborne particles from rodent waste may be the trigger
A hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship has put passengers on alert after warnings that the virus can cause a severe, sometimes fatal respiratory illness. Health officials say transmission is mainly through airborne particles contaminated by rodent droppings or urine, and it does not spread easily person to person.
- Hantavirus can cause potentially fatal respiratory illness
- Spread happens when rodent waste particles become airborne
- Human-to-human transmission is considered difficult
- Cruise ship exposure highlights hygiene and ventilation risks
Read the full story at The Economic Times
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The Economic Times