Our Reception team when triaging you may need to ask for any patient with a fever the following questions:
1. Has the patient had contact with someone who travelled on the cruise ship MV Hondius from 1st April in the 45 days before symptoms onset
2. or had contact with someone who travelled on the cruise ship in the 45 days before symptoms onset.
Please understand if you answer yes to either of the above questions or you belive you may have the Hantavirus please do not to come to the practice.
Hantavirus is a rare viral infection linked to rodents, including some mice and rats. People can become unwell if they come into contact with infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva, particularly if contaminated dust is breathed in.
Although hantavirus can be serious in some cases, it is important to keep the risk in perspective. For most people in the UK, the risk remains very low.
If you believe you may have come into contact with hantavirus, or you develop symptoms after possible exposure, stay at home, avoid close contact with others, and contact NHS 111 for advice before attending a GP surgery, clinic or hospital, unless it is an emergency.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is not one single virus, but a group of viruses carried naturally by rodents. Different types of hantavirus are found in different parts of the world, and the illness they cause can vary depending on the strain.
In some people, hantavirus may cause a flu-like illness. In more serious cases, it can affect the lungs or kidneys. Some strains found in the Americas have been linked with hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, which can affect breathing. Other strains, more commonly associated with parts of Europe and Asia, can affect the kidneys.
In the UK, occasional cases have been linked to Seoul hantavirus, which can be carried by wild brown rats and pet rats. The Andes virus strain, which has been associated with more serious outbreaks in parts of South America, has not been detected in the UK rodent population.
How do people catch hantavirus?
People usually catch hantavirus through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva. This is most likely to happen when virus particles become airborne, for example, when cleaning or disturbing an area where rodents have been present.
This can include:
- Breathing in dust contaminated by rodent urine, droppings or saliva
- Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Contact through cuts or broken skin
- Very rarely, being bitten by an infected rodent
Higher-risk situations may include cleaning sheds, lofts, garages, barns, outbuildings or other poorly ventilated spaces where there has been rodent activity.
One important point is to avoid dry sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings. This can push contaminated dust into the air. If an area may be contaminated, it should be cleaned carefully and safely, ideally by dampening the area first and avoiding anything that creates dust.
What are the first signs of hantavirus?
The early symptoms of hantavirus can look very similar to other viral illnesses, which is why context matters. A fever or headache on its own does not mean someone has hantavirus. However, symptoms after possible rodent exposure, travel to an affected area, or close contact with a suspected case should be taken seriously.
Early signs may include:
- fever
- severe tiredness
- muscle aches
- headache
- chills
- stomach pain
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhoea
- shortness of breath
Symptoms usually appear around 2 to 4 weeks after exposure, although they can sometimes appear earlier or later depending on the type of virus.
In some cases, the illness can progress and cause breathing problems. This is why it is important to get advice early if symptoms develop after a possible exposure, especially if you feel breathless, have chest symptoms, a persistent fever, worsening fatigue, or have recently been in a higher-risk environment.
Can hantavirus be transmitted between humans?
Most types of hantavirus do not spread from person to person. They are usually passed from rodents to humans.
*There is one important exception: the Andes virus strain, found in parts of South America. Rare person-to-person transmission has been reported with this strain, usually after very close and prolonged contact, such as within households or shared living spaces.
Hantavirus is NOT generally spread through everyday contact, such as walking past someone, being in a shop, using public transport, or working in the same building.
This distinction is important. Hantavirus should be taken seriously, but it should not be treated in the same way as highly contagious respiratory infections. For the general public in the UK, the risk remains very low.
Is there a hantavirus vaccine?
There is currently no widely available licensed vaccine for hantavirus in the UK, and there is no specific antiviral treatment for most hantavirus infections.
Treatment is usually supportive, which means managing the symptoms and supporting the body while it recovers. In more serious cases, this may involve hospital monitoring, oxygen, breathing support or specialist care.
Early advice matters; this makes sure anyone with a genuine exposure risk receives the right guidance quickly.
What should you do if you think you have been exposed?
If you think you may have been exposed to hantavirus, take a cautious but calm approach.
The safest first step is to stay at home and contact NHS 111 for advice. Avoid close contact with others while you are seeking guidance, especially if you have symptoms.
Do not attend a GP surgery, private clinic, urgent treatment centre or hospital without calling ahead first. This helps protect healthcare staff, other patients and anyone who may be more vulnerable.
You should seek medical advice urgently if you develop symptoms after possible exposure, particularly:
- fever
- severe tiredness
- muscle aches
- stomach symptoms
- cough
- shortness of breath
- worsening breathing
Call 999 immediately if you are struggling to breathe, have severe chest symptoms, feel faint, confused, or seriously unwell.
How can hantavirus risk be reduced?
The best way to reduce risk is to limit contact with rodents and avoid unsafe cleaning of contaminated areas.
Simple prevention steps include keeping food sealed, removing rubbish, sealing gaps where rodents may enter, and keeping indoor and outdoor spaces clean and well-maintained.
If you find rodent droppings, avoid dry sweeping or vacuuming. These methods can disturb particles and increase the risk of inhaling contaminated dust. The area should be cleaned carefully, using appropriate precautions, and dampened before cleaning.
If there is a significant rodent problem at home, work or in an outbuilding, professional pest control advice may be sensible.
Stay calm, but take a cautious approach
Hantavirus is rare, and the overall risk to the UK public is very low. However, it is still sensible to take possible exposure seriously, particularly if symptoms develop afterwards.
The key message is not to panic, but not to ignore symptoms either.
If you believe you may have been exposed, stay at home, avoid close contact with others, and contact NHS 111 for advice from home. Getting early guidance helps ensure you receive the right care while reducing unnecessary risk to others.
Useful Links:
NHS: Hantavirus
UKHSA
World Health Organisation: Hantavirus fact sheet
CDC
