Hantavirus Found Mostly in Rodents, Contagious in Close Quarters

Earlier this month, Canadian health officials confirmed that one of four Canadians from the MV Hondius cruise ship, subject of an international Andes hantavirus outbreak, tested positive for hantavirus. Three people connected to the outbreak have died.

Chickasaw County Public Health Administrator Lisa Welter says Hantavirus is not normally spread through human contact.

Welter notes that Hantavirus often generates from rodents.

Since 1993, Welter says there have only been about a dozen cases of Hantavirus in Iowa.

Click here to learn more about Hantavirus from the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services.