By Christian Edwards, CNN
(CNN) — Hantavirus, a rare disease typically caused by exposure to infected rodents’ urine or feces, is suspected in the deaths of three people after an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
One hantavirus case has been confirmed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with five more suspected cases under investigation. The ship had been traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde, a group of island off the coast of West Africa.
At first, hantavirus can feel like the flu, with patients suffering from fatigue, fevers, chills and aches. But over time, as the virus damages the heart, lungs or kidneys, patients can suffer severe shortness of breath, organ failure and even die.
WHO said Monday that there is no need for alarm and that the risk to the wider public remains low. Still, experts are puzzled as to how the disease could have spread on the cruise ship.
Here’s what to know about hantavirus.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus refers to a strain of viruses spread by rodents through their bodily fluids and excrement.
Humans often become infected when they inhale particles from dried rodent droppings. Typically, this happens when someone attempts to dispose of rodent droppings by sweeping them up, causing the particles to become airborne. The most common hantavirus in the United States is spread by the deer mouse.
Humans can also become infected by touching contaminated objects and then touching their mouth or nose. Hantavirus can also spread through rodent bites or scratches, though this is rare.
Only one hantavirus – the Andes strain, native to South America – is known to have spread from person-to-person, and this is rare.
What are hantavirus symptoms?
Hantaviruses are the cause of two types of severe illness.
Hantaviruses found in Europe and Asia can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which affects the kidneys. What starts with headaches, abdominal pain and nausea can develop into low blood pressure, internal bleeding and acute kidney failure. Between 5-15% of cases are fatal, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and symptoms typically take one to two weeks to develop after exposure.
Hantaviruses found in the Americas cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). This disease, which affects the lungs, also initially causes flulike symptoms. But over time, some patients can experience shortness of breath and tightness in the chest, as the lungs fill with fluid. After exposure, symptoms can take one to eight weeks to develop. Nearly 40% of those who develop respiratory symptoms may die from HPS, the CDC said.
Is there a cure for hantavirus?
There’s no specific treatment for hantavirus, according to the CDC. Patients can be treated with hydration, rest and for specific symptoms.
For that reason, prevention is important. The best way to protect yourself from hantavirus, the CDC says, is to keep rodents out of your home – by sealing any gaps or holes in your home, keeping food well sealed and putting garbage in thick containers with tight lids.
When cleaning rodent droppings, use gloves, spray the waste with a bleach solution and wait for five minutes, before wiping the area with paper towels and disposing of them safely.
How common is hantavi