Getting answers about hantavirus

WIVB invited John Crane to do an in-studio interview about the hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that has already claimed the lives of several passengers. In a six-minute segment, Crane discussed this virus which he said is quite hardy and how it typically can become aerosolized from the droppings of rodents. He said the strain of the virus on the cruise ship is the only one that is able to be transmitted between people. While he said the chances of the virus reaching New York State are very low but noted that hantavirus poses some unique concerns. “This virus has an unusually long incubation period, it’s usually 2-3 weeks but can be as long as 8 weeks, which is very disruptive for public health authorities to be able to declare that an outbreak period is over,” he said.