How Likely is a Hantavirus Pandemic? West MI expert weighs in

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:00]By now, you've heard about the hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, but could that virus ever spread like COVID? We took that question straight to a West Michigan infectious disease expert. COVID taught me to never say absolutes. Dr. Andrew Jameson is an infectious disease doctor with Trinity Health in Grand Rapids, a trusted expert who guided us through the COVID pandemic, now keeping an eye on the latest hantavirus outbreak. We don't think it's going to turn into something that is as scary or as big a deal as we dealt with COVID. Um even though there's some frightening things about hantavirus. Dr. Jameson says hantavirus has been identified and studied in the US for decades, with most cases happening primarily out west.

[00:00:42]>> Looking at um you know, under a thousand cases in the last 30 years in the United States. So, this is something the infectious disease community has known about.

[00:00:51]>> Hantavirus usually spreads through contact with rodent droppings, but this latest outbreak involves a rare strain capable of human-to-human transmission.

[00:00:59]So, it kind of starts as the flu, you kind of feel crummy, but then there's a few people that it converts into this pulmonary syndrome that becomes life-threatening. While the mortality rate is higher, around 40%, the virus is very different from COVID. It's tougher to spread, requiring prolonged close contact with someone showing symptoms, and Dr. Jameson says it's also much easier to contain. As soon as it's identified as hanta, it kind of stops.

[00:01:24]Because what happens is you identify the people that are exposed, then as soon as those people develop a symptom, like the transmission stops because they're isolated and they're supported and they're cared for. Bottom line, he says hantavirus is something to watch, not a reason to panic. Not worried yet. I have not bought more masks. I have not bought more sanitizer. I am not washing my groceries. So, we are in a good spot.

[00:01:49]And hantavirus has a longer incubation period ranging from six to eight weeks, and there are no treatments or vaccines.

[00:01:57]The best way to protect yourself is to avoid contact with mice nests, their droppings, their urine, and to wear a mask if you are caring for or exposed to someone with hantavirus. I'm Janice Allen, Fox 17 News.