There's been a viral outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic. At least three people are dead and another three are showing symptoms of hantavirus -- which is usually spread by contact with urine or feces from infected rodents. The cruise ship has been quarantined. The nearly 150 people aboard the cruise ship off the coast of Cape Verde have been mostly confined to their cabins, according to footage obtained by The Associated Press.
Dr. Farrin Manion is an infectious diseases physician at Mercy St. Louis.
"These animals, mice especially, they can excrete the virus in their excrements and feces and saliva. And then it can actually become airborne, become dust, and people can actually breathe it, the contaminated air, and then get infected with the same virus."
Dr. Manion says hantavirus is fatal in 40 percent of the people who get it. There is no treatment for the illness, just supportive therapy.
"Supportive treatment means give people fluids, get the blood pressure up and give people oxygen and if needed place them on a ventilator to get them through the serious phase of the disease," Dr Manion tells KMOX Health Editor Fred Bodimer.
While rare, it is most commonly found in the western parts of the United States.
A rare virus -- transmitted by rodents -- killed at least 3 people aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic
A rare virus -- transmitted by rodents -- killed at least 3 people aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic
