Hantavirus may have spread person-to-person on cruise ship -- here’s what to know

We’re learning more about a suspected hantavirus outbreak that happened at sea. A cruise ship with nearly 150 people, including 17 Americans, is still being monitored after three people died. South African health leaders confirmed the Andes strain, a rare version that can spread from person to person through close contact. Three people have died so far, including a Dutch woman who tested positive after dying in South Africa. The ship had been held off Cape Verde, but could now head to the Canary Islands for a full investigation and disinfection. The Dutch-flagged Hondius is sitting just outside the capital of Cape Verde, after officials refused to let it dock over health concerns. Ship-tracking data show it hasn’t moved since at least Monday morning. Three people are going to be evacuated soon to receive proper treatment. This sickness isn’t something we hear about much where we live. State health officials say the first confirmed human case of hantavirus in Michigan occurred in 2021. An adult woman in Washtenaw County was hospitalized after being exposed while cleaning a vacant home with a rodent infestation. Hantavirus spreads through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva -- and can cause a deadly respiratory illness. Symptoms start like the flu, but can quickly turn into trouble breathing. You’ll remember last year, Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. An autopsy found the 65-year-old had severe fluid buildup in her lungs. Records also show she was searching online for flu-like symptoms and breathing techniques before her death. Hantavirus is rare but can quickly turn deadly. Dr. Emily Abdoler with the University of Michigan joined Local 4 Live to break it all down.