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<\/p>\nThe Health Protection Surveillance Centre said those who battled the deadly disease picked it up in “other countries” before returning here.<\/p>\n
12:00, 12 May 2026Updated 12:31, 12 May 2026<\/p>\n
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Hand of doctor holding a rapid test cassette for Hantavirus test, showing positive result (file photo)<\/p>\n
Irish people have been infected with the deadly hantavirus <\/a>in the past, health bosses have confirmed.<\/p>\n The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said those who battled the deadly disease picked it up in “other countries” before returning here.<\/p>\n The HSE organisation<\/a>, which monitors disease outbreaks in Ireland, said hantavirus cases in humans in this country are “very rare” but acknowledged “sporadic cases have occurred”.<\/p>\n They stressed that hantaviruses, which are a group of viruses carried mainly by mice, rats and voles, are not naturally found in Ireland.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “In the Americas, these are known as ‘New World’ hantaviruses and are mostly carried by rodents like deer mice.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n They explained that were a number of ways people ultimately contract hantavirus. These include breathing in contaminated dust from rodent urine and droppings.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n They said hantavirus does not spread between people unless it’s the Andes strain.<\/p>\n Health bosses also said it can take up to eight weeks for symptoms <\/a>to develop. These include fever, extreme tiredness, muscle aches, headaches along with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain.<\/p>\n In more severe cases, those infected can develop shortness of breath or coughing, kidney problems and or severe breathing difficulties.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The HPSC also declared the risk to people in Ireland remains “extremely low” especially if they don’t travel to affected areas.<\/p>\n At present, two Irish women, who were onboard the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius, are isolating after they were repatriated from Tenerife <\/a>on Sunday.<\/p>\n