Health experts say cruise ship hantavirus outbreak isn't a risk to public at large

Passengers who were potentially exposed to hantavirus on a cruise are back home and being monitored for symptoms, as scientists maintain that risk to the public is low. MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: The hantavirus outbreak that started on a cruise ship is not the next COVID. That's according to public health experts, who say the risk to the public at large is extremely low. But this is a transmissible disease and, of course, a worry to the ship's passengers. In a few minutes, we'll hear from the CDC's former chief medical officer for her take on the U.S. response so far, but we will start with the details. A MARTÍNEZ, HOST: NPR's Gabrielle Emanuel joins us. So why are experts saying this is not the next COVID? GABRIELLE EMANUEL, BYLINE: The biggest reason is hantavirus does not spread from one person to another that easily. Now, people usually get it when they inhale virus particles from infected rodent feces, urine or saliva. But when it does spread from one person to the next, you need to be in quite close contact. So think of a household or a nurse caring for a patient. Although I should note from one well-documented outbreak in Argentina, a few years back, we do know that it has the potential to spread in settings like a birthday party or a funeral. Scott Weaver of the University of Texas Medical Branch told me that if there are no precautions taken, then one person will spread it to two other people on average. …