Experts say there’s no reason for NY families to panic, and cruise travel remains safe despite headlines surrounding a hantavirus exposure on a cruise ship.
At a Glance
- The CDC is monitoring a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise trip after several travelers became sick
- The situation has raised questions for NY-area families ahead of the summer travel season
- Experts say this virus spreads very differently from COVID-19
- Parents are also wondering whether mice in local homes pose any risk
- Here’s what families should actually know right now
Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak: What NY Parents Need to Know Right Now
Recent news that a small number of New Yorkers may have been connected to a hantavirus outbreak tied to a cruise ship has understandably made some parents nervous.
People usually get hantavirus after breathing in tiny virus particles from infected wild rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, often while cleaning dusty enclosed spaces like sheds, cabins, or other areas where rodents have nested.
Infectious disease experts say families in the NY area should not panic, and there’s no reason to change daily routines, cancel travel plans, or start worrying every time they spot a mouse.
“Parents should not be worried,” says Marc El Khoury, Program Director and Section Chief of Infectious Diseases at Westchester Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at New York Medical College.
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Why Experts Say There’s No Need to Panic
According to Dr. El Khoury, people potentially exposed to the virus are already being monitored closely. Unlike COVID-19, hantavirus is not easily spread from person to person.
“If they acquired the virus, they are not contagious until they develop symptoms, and would be quarantined promptly before unknowingly exposing others,” he explains. “Transmission requires close contact such as kissing, sharing food, sexual contact, or prolonged exposure such as living with someone.”
That means casual day-to-day interactions in schools, stores, playgrounds, or public transportation are not considered a risk.
How This Differs From COVID
Many parents understandably hear the words “virus outbreak” and immediately think back to early 2020. But experts stress that this situation is very different.
“COVID is much more contagious with a shorter contact period,” Dr. El Khoury says. “It can be contagious before symptoms start.”
The strain involved in this outbreak is the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus found in parts of South America, and has existed for decades without causing epidemics or pandemics. It spreads far less easily than COVID-19 and does not rapidly evolve into more contagious forms.
Should Families Avoid Cruise Ships?
Not according to experts.
“Cruise ships are okay to go on,” Dr. El Khoury says. “There is no risk from being on a cruise ship itself.”
The concern connected to this particular trip stemmed from some travelers visiting an area known to have rodents infected with the virus. In other words, the risk was tied to a specific excursion and exposure, not cruise travel in general.
He notes that the only higher-risk situation would involve prolonged close contact with someone actively infected with the Andes virus, such as sharing a bedroom or bathroom with them.
What About Mice in NY Homes?
For city parents, one of the biggest questions is whether seeing a mouse at home should now be more alarming.
The good news: the types of mice commonly found in New York homes are not known to carry the Andes virus.
“Mice in homes do not carry the Andes virus,” Dr. El Khoury says.
He adds that the Sin Nombre virus, a different hantavirus strain found in the United States, is primarily associated with deer mice in rural areas of the Western U.S., including New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah.
Even then, cases are rare. Between 2008 and 2020, the CDC reported 335 cases, mostly in western states.
Basic Mouse Safety Is Important
While New York house mice are not considered a hantavirus threat, experts still recommend being careful around rodent droppings because mice can carry other illnesses.
If you’re cleaning areas with mouse droppings:
- Wear gloves
- Avoid sweeping or vacuuming dry droppings
- Use disinfectant or a bleach solution first
- Wash your hands thoroughly afterward
What Parents Should Take Away From This
Experts say NY-area families do not need to change routines, avoid public spaces, or cancel summer travel plans because of this outbreak.
“This is not something that should create panic,” Dr. El Khoury says. “There’s no need for families to change anything about their daily lives right now.”
