A Dutch cruise ship has recently seen a breakout of hantavirus. The WHO has said that the virus might have been transmitted from person to person, which would be unusual for the disease, which usually only spreads from rodents.

Three deaths have been connected to the outbreak, and two cases of hantavirus have been confirmed so far.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said that “WHO assesses that the overall risk to the public is low.”

We spoke to Dr Dominic Greenyer, GP and director at The Health Suite in Leicester, about how the disease spreads, its symptoms, and how it may affect us.

“Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that are mostly spread by rodents. Infection in humans is rare, but it can cause serious illness and death,” the doctor explained.

UKHSA explained that they can cause everything from “mild, flu-like” illness to full-blown, severe respiratory disease.

“There are two types of syndromes associated with hantaviruses. They are hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS),” Dr Grant said.

Hantaviruses are found all over the world, including parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

However, the UKHSA shared, “Only Seoul hantavirus – which does not transmit person to person – has ever been identified in the UK.”

“Hantaviruses are usually spread by infected rodents through their urine, droppings or saliva,” Dr Grant said.

That’s why Van Kerkhove called suspected person-to-person transmission on board the cruise ship “uncommon”.

Symptoms usually occur one to four weeks after exposure, though they can appear as late as eight weeks later.

The UKHSA said that in general, symptoms include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or shortness of breath.

Dr Grant broke that down further.

“Symptoms of HPS [hantavirus pulmonary syndrome] can include a fever, headaches, dizziness and gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, pain and diarrhoea. Some days after the initial illness, there can be a sudden onset of respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath,” said Dr Grant.

“HFRS [haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome] is clinically similar, with symptoms including headaches, fever and chills. In later stages, symptoms can include low blood pressure and kidney failure.”

Dr Greenyer added, “The World Health Organisation currently classes the risk to the global population as ‘low’”.