As health officials work to trace passengers from the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius, concerns are growing that the deadly rat virus could reach Britain. Three passengers on the luxury cruise ship have died, with two confirmed cases and five suspected. However, many are unaware that hantavirus is already present in the UK.
Hantavirus in the UK
Official guidance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirms that hantaviruses are carried by native rodents, notably wild mice and voles. Cases have also been diagnosed in pet rats, but this involves the Seoul strain, which is not transmissible person-to-person. In the UK, infections typically occur in rural, agricultural settings where people and rodents coexist, such as sheds, barns, and holiday homes. Since 2012, only 11 confirmed human cases of Seoul hantavirus infection have been reported in the UK, nine linked to pet rats or rats bred for reptile feeding.
Location Matters
Hantaviruses are present in rodents like rats, mice, and voles. The type of hantavirus depends on the rodent species in the area. In the UK, the Seoul virus is carried by brown rats and sometimes pet rats. This strain attacks the kidneys, and if untreated, can cause internal bleeding and organ failure. However, it has a higher survival rate than the 'New World' strains found in the Americas. Passengers on the MV Hondius have the Andes strain, endemic in Argentina and common in long-tailed pygmy rice rats. Only the Andes virus can spread human-to-human, but rodents remain the primary transmitters. People who work, play, or live in spaces with rats and mice are most at risk.
Could the Andes Strain Infect British Rodents?
Dr. Michael Head, an expert in public health research from the University of Southampton, told The Pharmacist that infected rats from Argentina could theoretically reach British shores and interact with native rodents. 'Rats are mobile. They can get on planes and boats and go to other continents. So, there is a theoretical risk,' he explained. However, the risk of the Andes virus becoming imported and sustained in the UK is extremely low. 'It would need to establish a host in rats here and might need a competitive advantage to outweigh the Seoul hantavirus. The risk to someone in the UK is as close to zero as it gets.'
Precautions: Wear a Mask
When the virus jumps from rodents to humans, it often occurs through inhaling viral spores in contaminated faeces or urine. Even pet rats or mice can pose a risk when cleaning their cage, as dried urine and faecal matter can become airborne. Dr. Chris Smith, a consultant virologist from the University of Cambridge, told the Telegraph: 'The mice shed the virus in feces and urine. When people clear it up, the viral particles become airborne and are breathed in, causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.' Experts recommend spraying droppings, nests, or signs of infestations with water before cleaning and disinfecting. Protective clothing, including a mask and goggles, should be worn because the virus can enter through the nose, eyes, and mouth.
Case Study: Betsy Arakawa
Betsy Arakawa, 65, wife of actor Gene Hackman, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). An environmental assessment found rodent droppings, nests, and a live rodent in outbuildings 45 metres from the main house. Rodents were also spotted in abandoned vehicles and farming machinery. Traps had been set, and the house itself was clean. HPS is a life-threatening lung condition that can cause sudden death. Early symptoms include fatigue, muscle aches, and fever, often mistaken for the flu. Half of patients also experience headache, dizziness, chills, and gastrointestinal issues. Four to ten days later, more severe symptoms appear, including coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness as the lungs fill with fluid. About 40% of patients with these symptoms die from respiratory complications. Dr. Smith added that infected rodents are infected for life but show no symptoms. The virus is more common in wild rodents, which can pick it up in breeding areas.
Repeat Exposure Increases Risk
Experts believe routine exposure makes infection more likely. Prof. Malcolm Bennet, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Nottingham, explains: 'You need to be frequently infected before you get the disease. The more constant your exposure, the more likely you are to become infected.' While catching hantavirus from a contaminated drink can is unlikely, the virus can still appear in unexpected places.
Andes Strain and Human Transmission
The Andes strain can be spread through kissing, sharing drinks, or coughs and sneezes. A lab report in The Lancet suggests infectious particles are present in saliva, urine, and mucus of patients, even when symptom-free. Prof. Marcela Ferres, who led the research, said previous outbreaks have been linked to sharing straws. However, the risk of human transmission remains very low for those not in contact with an infected person. Until this outbreak, experts believed hantaviruses rarely spread between humans. Now, while it appears the virus can spread in close proximity, experts say it is not the next pandemic. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove from the WHO stressed on 7 May: 'This is not Covid, this is not influenza; it spreads very, very differently.' A third Briton has now been diagnosed with suspected hantavirus linked to the cruise ship outbreak.
