Hantavirus case suspected in Ontario County
13wham.com • • health
Key Points:
- Ontario County, N.Y., is investigating a suspected locally acquired hantavirus case, with no connection to the recent Dutch cruise ship outbreak that caused three deaths and multiple infections.
- Public health director Kate Ott emphasized there is no risk to the general public and issued the statement to address public anxiety fueled by social media and recent news.
- Hantavirus infections are rare in New York, with only a few cases reported since 1995, and the virus is typically spread through exposure to infected rodent droppings, not person-to-person transmission.
- The U.S. hantavirus strains cannot spread between humans; only the Andes virus from South America, linked to the current cruise ship outbreak, is known for person-to-person transmission.
- Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and more information will be provided as the investigation develops.