WHO on Hantavirus: Low Risk to the Public, No Reason to Panic
JAKARTA – The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised the public not to panic regarding the spread of Hantavirus. WHO emphasised that there is no risk of widespread transmission of Hantavirus and no travel measures are required.
“Hantavirus infections are generally linked to environmental exposure, such as contact with the urine or faeces of infected rodents. Although it can be severe in some cases, this virus is not easily transmitted between humans,” said Hans Kluge, Head of the WHO Europe office, on Monday via the X platform.
“The risk to the general public remains low. There is no reason to panic or take any actions.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Hantavirus is a rare infection transmitted from rodents such as mice to humans. Transmission to humans usually occurs when someone inhales particles from the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected mice; touches contaminated objects and then touches their nose or mouth; or through mouse bites. Human-to-human transmission can also occur, although it is rare.
One form of the disease it causes is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, back pain, muscle aches, and headaches. The disease can quickly progress to a serious condition affecting the lungs and heart, even becoming life-threatening.
HPS symptoms typically appear between one and eight weeks after exposure. As the disease progresses, sufferers may experience shortness of breath. Additionally, hantavirus can cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which generally appears within one to two weeks after exposure to the virus.
According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mortality rate for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is around 35%, while HFRS has a mortality rate of between 1 and 15%. To date, there is no specific treatment or medicine for Hantavirus. However, early medical care can improve patients’ chances of survival.
A US travel blogger shared a moving video of himself being trapped on a cruise ship suspected to be the centre of a Hantavirus outbreak. The incident occurred aboard the MV Hondius, which was sailing from Ushuaia in southern Argentina to Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa.
The ship departed on 20 March and was scheduled to arrive on 4 May. However, the journey turned into a medical emergency after suspicions of a Hantavirus outbreak that had killed three people on board and left several others in critical condition.
Travel blogger Jake Rosmarin, who has more than 44,000 followers on Instagram, was one of the passengers on the ship. In a video uploaded on Monday (4/5/2026), he described the uncertain conditions faced by the passengers and crew.