UMVA has learned that a mysterious case of hantavirus is being investigated in upstate New York, sparking concerns about a potential outbreak in the region.
The Ontario County Public Health Department is currently probing the suspected locally acquired hantavirus case, which has no connection to the recent cruise ship outbreak that has left three people dead.
According to information obtained by UMVA, health officials are urging residents to take precautions when cleaning enclosed spaces where rodents may be present, including wearing gloves and masks when opening or cleaning attics, cabins, sheds, and garages.
Hantavirus infections are rare in New York, with the virus spread through mouse and rodent droppings, especially when urine, feces, or nesting materials become aerosolized during cleaning.
The risk to the general public is low, as human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is considered extremely rare and has only been suspected in certain strains, including the Andes hantavirus strain linked to the cruise ship outbreak.
As the investigation continues, health officials are emphasizing the importance of taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, particularly in areas where rodents may be present.
The MV Hondius luxury cruise ship outbreak, which has sickened multiple passengers and crew members, has prompted heightened precautions internationally, with the World Health Organization monitoring the situation closely.
A quarantine was even implemented at the Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands after officials said a hantavirus patient's blood and urine were not handled under the strictest international protocols required for the specific virus strain.
The investigation in upstate New York is ongoing, with health officials working to determine the source of the suspected hantavirus case and prevent any further spread of the virus.
