What to know about hantavirus, the illness linked to a cruise ship outbreak

AI Summary

An outbreak of hantavirus aboard a cruise ship has resulted in multiple casualties, raising awareness of the disease. Although health officials deem the public risk low due to limited person-to-person transmission, the situation highlights concerns for cruise travel safety.

An outbreak aboard a cruise ship of a rare rodent-borne illness called hantavirus has left three passengers dead and sickened others, but global health officials say the risk to the general public remains low because the germ does not easily spread between people.