The everyday places Americans could be exposed to hantavirus — without knowing it

The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has raised concerns about human-to-human spread, and health experts are examining whether Americans may be exposed to the virus in everyday places without realizing it. The rare Andes strain can spread from person to person through close contact, and most cases of hantavirus in the U.S. occur in the desert Southwest and on the West Coast. People can become infected through contact with infected rodents or contaminated particles and surfaces.