Is hantavirus the next COVID? Why public-health officials say it isn't
Atlanta, Georgia, United StatesConfidence 70%3 weeks ago
Is hantavirus the next COVID? Why public-health officials say it isn't
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- PrimaryIs hantavirus the next COVID? Why public-health officials say it isn't
npr.org · 2026-05-10
Public-health officials are urging the public not to compare the current Andes hantavirus cluster to the early days of COVID-19. While the case-fatality rate of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is high, the virus is poorly transmissible and requires close contact with rodent excreta or, in the rare Andes lineage, prolonged exposure to a symptomatic patient. The CDC says no community-acquired US cases have been detected from the cruise.
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