An outbreak of hantavirus associated with the M/V Hondius cruise ship continues to be monitored, and federal health officials are reporting no Nevada residents among those affected. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing ongoing updates to the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, which currently assesses the risk to the state as low.

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause severe respiratory disease. Early symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Late symptoms can include coughing, difficulty breathing, and respiratory distress.  

The hantavirus associated with the cruise ship outbreak is Andes virus, found in South America. Andes virus is capable of both person-to-person and rodent-to human transmission, unlike the hantaviruses found in North America. Based on existing evidence, person-to-person transmission of the Andes virus is uncommon and generally occurs after prolonged, close contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids. CDC is working with international partners to better understand the transmission that happened on the ship.

The primary hantavirus found in Nevada and North America is called Sin Nombre virus, spread by infected deer mice and is not spread person to person. Hantavirus infections are rare in Nevada, but every year a small number of cases caused by exposure to rodents and their droppings/urine are reported in the state. The full scope of reported cases over time can be seen on the Office of State Epidemiology’s Communicable Disease Dashboard (click on “Current Status” or “Trends” tab, select “Zoonotic & Vector-Borne” button and then select “Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome” or “Hantavirus infection, non-Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome”).

To reduce the risk of hantavirus, Nevadans can:

  • Make homes, garages, cars, campers, and other spaces “rodent-proof” by:
    • Storing all food and garbage inside containers with tight-fitting lids.
    • Sealing up gaps, cracks, and holes in structures where rodents might enter.
    • Trapping rodents around structures (snap traps recommended).
  • Clean safely by:
    • Ventilating enclosed spaces before cleaning by opening windows.
    • Avoiding sweeping or vacuuming mouse droppings – spray urine and droppings with a bleach or EPA-registered disinfectant, let it soak, and then wipe up with a disposable towel.
    • Wearing gloves and a face covering when cleaning areas with signs of rodent activity.
  • Check the CDC Travelers’ Health page before traveling internationally to learn about specific health considerations at your destination.

Anyone who develops symptoms of hantavirus and has had recent exposure to rodents or rodent droppings/urine should contact their health care provider. Providers are asked to report hantavirus cases to their local health authority.

For more information about the cruise ship situation, visit the CDC webpage.

Department of Human Services