General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Are we sitting ducks for a Hantavirus epidemic? (POLL) [View all]LeftInTX
(34,798 posts)Yet, it's not considered an epidemic in Argentina.
I believe Argentina has the highest rate of hantavirus in the Americas. I think they lose about 100 people a year.
I don't think a person to person case will result in the virus becoming endemic in the US.
When they say close contact, I'm not quite sure what they mean.
So far, they are allowing passengers to stay on the boat until they reach the Canary Islands. (Unless they are sick) Everyone could have disembarked at Cape Verde, but they didn't. So, I don't know how concerned they are about the disease spreading. I'm thinking there are rats on the ship, but they are saying there isn't.
I went on my first and hopefully last cruise this past January. (Family imposed thing). We disembarked at Progresso, Yucatan which is the longest pier in the world. We took a bus on the four mile pier to get to town. There were bait boxes every 50 feet or so. It was kinda crazy. But the bait boxes indicated that rats are a huge problem on ships.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/health/andes-strain-hantavirus-explained
I really didn't enjoy being on a ship for four days, but it was a Disney cruise with the grandkids and an in-law works for Disney. Yesterday I told hubby, "No more cruises: Hantavirus". Being on a ship, just isn't my thing. I wanted to get off and "go the the store" and felt confined. I also didn't like the "dress up" stuff. And I really didn't like the Disney shows. I did enjoy disembarking at Progesso and enjoyed the sites within the Chicxulub crater, including the cenotes and Mayan ruins.