The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said those who battled the deadly disease picked it up in “other countries” before returning here.
12:00, 12 May 2026Updated 12:31, 12 May 2026
Hand of doctor holding a rapid test cassette for Hantavirus test, showing positive result (file photo)
Irish people have been infected with the deadly hantavirus in the past, health bosses have confirmed.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said those who battled the deadly disease picked it up in “other countries” before returning here.
The HSE organisation, which monitors disease outbreaks in Ireland, said hantavirus cases in humans in this country are “very rare” but acknowledged “sporadic cases have occurred”.
They stressed that hantaviruses, which are a group of viruses carried mainly by mice, rats and voles, are not naturally found in Ireland.
Explaining where hantavirus is found, the HPSC said: “Hantaviruses are found globally, but they are categorized into two main groups depending on where they live and how they affect the body.
“In the Americas, these are known as ‘New World’ hantaviruses and are mostly carried by rodents like deer mice.
“This usually causes a serious lung infection called hanta pulmonary syndrome (HPS). While most hantaviruses only spread from animals to humans, a specific version in South America called the Andes virus is unique because it can occasionally spread between people.
“In Europe and Asia, ‘Old World’ hantaviruses are more common and typically cause a different illness that affects the kidneys. China sees the highest number of cases because of the specific mice that live there, while a milder version is often found in Northern Europe.”
They explained that were a number of ways people ultimately contract hantavirus. These include breathing in contaminated dust from rodent urine and droppings.
Other ways include touching contaminated surfaces before a person touches their mouth, nose or eyes. They said it was possible to contract hantavirus if a person was bitten by a rodent but stressed this was very rare.
They said hantavirus does not spread between people unless it’s the Andes strain.
Health bosses also said it can take up to eight weeks for symptoms to develop. These include fever, extreme tiredness, muscle aches, headaches along with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain.
In more severe cases, those infected can develop shortness of breath or coughing, kidney problems and or severe breathing difficulties.
They said people most at risk are those who work or spend in rural or agricultural settings, clean or renovate unused buildings or those who have frequent contact with rodents.
The HPSC also declared the risk to people in Ireland remains “extremely low” especially if they don’t travel to affected areas.
At present, two Irish women, who were onboard the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius, are isolating after they were repatriated from Tenerife on Sunday.
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