Hantavirus

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents (mice and rats). Humans get infected by breathing in dust contaminated with an infected rodent’s saliva, urine, or droppings, or through direct contact.There is currently significant international attention on hantavirus due to an unusual outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship in the Atlantic (May 2026), where several deaths have occurred and WHO is investigating potential human-to-human transmission.