You may have seen in the news that UKHSA is participating in a cross-governmental response for the hantavirus situation that emerged on the expedition cruise ship m/v Hondius.

Background

Hantavirus is a group of infections primarily spread from rodents to humans through contact with contaminated urine, droppings or saliva, typically in environments where people and rodents coexist.

It can cause a range of illness from mild, flu‑like symptoms to severe respiratory disease, with symptoms including fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues, and in some cases shortness of breath or more serious complications.

Human‑to‑human transmission is rare and generally limited to very close contact, with most infections linked to environmental exposure.

More information and shareable links

UKHSA provided the following news update on 7 May 2026:

UKHSA update on the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak - GOV.UK.

There is also a blog that is updated as new information emerges:

What is hantavirus? How is it transmitted and what are the symptoms? – UK Health Security Agency

Risk to the ASC sector

The risk to wider UK population is currently assessed as very low and we are not anticipating an impact on ASC. UKHSA will provide us with up-to-date information where appropriate.

Existing infection prevention and control guidance

Please continue to follow existing infection prevention and control guidance.

Infection prevention and control in adult social care settings - GOV.UK