'Like a bad cold to start with...': The early hantavirus symptoms you must never ignore - and how the killer infection can turn deadly in hours, as Midwesterner who was NOT on rat cruise ship is feared to have the virus

A Midwesterner is feared to have contracted hantavirus, a killer infection that can turn deadly in hours, with early symptoms resembling a bad cold. The individual was not on a rat-infested cruise ship, prompting concern about the source of the infection. Hantavirus symptoms should never be ignored, as they can quickly escalate into a life-threatening condition.