Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) cases have been reported in nearly all U.S. states, but over 90 % of cases occur west of the Mississippi River. The states with the highest number of reported cases are New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, California, and Washington.
The odds of getting sick from hantavirus are extremely low. Nationwide, only 20 to 40 cases are typically reported each year in the United States, and there have been just over 800 confirmed cases since 1993.
New Mexico consistently reports the highest overall incidence and case rate of hantavirus in the United States, alongside the highest total number of confirmed cases.
The 2026 hantavirus outbreak began in South America. The initial patients (a couple) are believed to have been infected during a bird-watching expedition in Chile, Uruguay, or Argentina before boarding a ship. The virus was specifically identified as the Andes virus.
The outbreak on the Dutch expedition vessel MV Hondius is believed to have started on land. Health authorities, including the World Health Organization, suspect a Dutch couple contracted the South American Andes hantavirus during a bird-watching and wildlife trip in Argentina and Chile before boarding the ship on April 1.
Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, contracted hantavirus after inhaling airborne virus particles from the urine, droppings, or nesting materials of infected rodents. Health officials found extensive evidence of rodent nests and feces in detached buildings and around their mountain home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
On a cruise ship, a pineapple—especially one that is upside-down—is a widely recognized secret code used by adults in the "swinger" or partner-swapping lifestyle.
The very first symptoms of hantavirus are flu-like, most commonly fatigue, fever, and intense muscle aches (especially in the thighs, hips, and back). These initial signs usually appear suddenly, 1 to 8 weeks after exposure to infected rodent droppings or saliva.
A hantavirus outbreak was linked to the MV Hondius, a vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. The ship departed Argentina on an Antarctic voyage, and several passengers contracted the Andes strain of hantavirus, resulting in multiple deaths.
Yes, pack rats (also known as woodrats) can carry hantavirus and are considered a potential carrier of the disease. Humans can contract it by inhaling dust contaminated with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, typically during the cleaning of infested, enclosed areas.
No, most mice do not carry hantavirus. In North America, the virus is primarily carried by specific wild rodents like the deer mouse, white-footed mouse, rice rat, and cotton rat. Common house mice do not carry hantavirus.
Activities that can increase the risk of exposure to the hantavirus include:
Hantavirus is most common in the spring and early summer.
Illnesses from mouse droppings, like the rare but severe Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), usually show up 1 to 8 weeks (commonly 2 to 4 weeks) after exposure. Other bacterial illnesses like rat-bite fever can develop much faster, usually within 3 to 10 days.
Yes, hantavirus can live in old droppings, but its survival time drops significantly the longer the waste sits in warm, dry environments. While the virus can remain infectious for a few days to possibly a week, you should always treat old or dry droppings as potentially hazardous.
Anyone who encounters wild rodents or their droppings is at risk for hantavirus, as the infection is primarily contracted by inhaling airborne viral particles from infected rodent urine, feces, or saliva. The virus cannot be caught from other humans, except in very rare cases linked to the Andes virus in South America.
On a cruise ship, hearing "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie" (or Code Charlie) broadcast over the public address system is a covert alert for the crew that there is an active security threat onboard.
It takes 1 to 8 weeks (typically 2 to 4 weeks) after exposure to an infected rodent to get sick from hantavirus.
Respiratory illnesses. Respiratory illnesses are the most common medical complaint on cruise ships.
In the United States, hantavirus is most common in the West and Southwest, particularly in the "Four Corners" region where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. Approximately 96% of all reported cases occur in states west of the Mississippi River.
To avoid hantavirus when cleaning, never dry sweep or vacuum as this creates dangerous dust. Instead, ventilate the area for 30 minutes, wear gloves and an N95 mask, thoroughly saturate all droppings and nests with a bleach solution, and wipe everything up wet.
Yes, blood tests are the primary and official method used to diagnose hantavirus.
Cruise ducks are small rubber ducks that passengers hide around cruise ships for others to find. It's a simple, family-friendly tradition that adds a little extra fun, connection, and surprise to your cruise vacation.
Bringing bananas on a boat is considered bad luck and is strictly forbidden by many anglers and captains. While it originated as a maritime superstition, it is rooted in very real historical hazards: spoiling other food, attracting venomous pests, and causing poor fishing catches.
When a girl uses a pineapple, it generally means one of three things: she is subtly signaling interest in swinging/non-monogamy (especially if it's upside down), denoting a "complicated" relationship status in texting, or simply expressing a love for the tropical fruit or summer vibes.