Why hantavirus is not like COVID, according to infectious disease experts

HealthWatch Why hantavirus is not like COVID, according to infectious disease experts .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-healthwatch.jpg'); } By Emily Mae Czachor Emily Mae Czachor News Editor Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She typically covers breaking news, extreme weather and issues involving social justice. Emily Mae previously wrote for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek. Read Full Bio Emily Mae Czachor May 11, 2026 / 3:13 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The deadly cruise ship outbreak of hantavirus, a rare, rodent-borne illness, may have evoked some memories of the early days of COVID-19 — but infectious disease specialists and public health officials say there are clear differences in this case that make the risk to the public extremely low."This is not another COVID," World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told CBS News on Sunday. Asked about his message to concerned Americans, he said, "Based on scientific assessment and based on evidence ... the risk is low. So they shouldn't— they shouldn't worry."There have been at least 10 confirmed or suspected cases tied to the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius to date, including three fatalities. A group of 18 American passengers who returned to the U.S. early Monday are being monitoring at specialized medical facilities.According to infectious disease experts, there are a few key characteristics that set this virus apart from the one that triggered a global pandemic in 2020. Here's what to know."Wildfire" vs. "a wet log"CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Céline Gounder, an infectious disease specialist, likened the properties of COVID-19, when it first surfaced, to conditions that create a favorable environment for wildfires to spread — whereas hantavirus is more like "a wet log in a stone fireplace." "If you're a fire chief an...