A hantavirus survivor has described the illness as "hell on earth," sharing a harrowing account of the rodent-borne virus that kills roughly one in three infected people. The BBC spoke with two people who contracted hantavirus years ago, both expressing gratitude simply to have survived.
Hantavirus emerges primarily through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. The disease triggers severe respiratory symptoms within weeks of exposure, progressing rapidly to organ failure and death in many cases. Those who survive face months of intensive medical intervention and lasting physical trauma.
The accounts underscore why public health officials classify hantavirus as a serious threat despite its relative rarity in developed nations. Each year, roughly 200 cases appear worldwide. The U.S. sees between 1 and 5 cases annually, though infection rates spike during rodent population booms or when people work in contaminated spaces like old barns or cabins.
The virus gained public attention during a 1993 outbreak in the American Southwest that killed multiple people and sparked widespread fear. That cluster, linked to Sin Nombre virus transmitted by deer mice, killed roughly half of those infected and launched epidemiological investigations that reshaped how health authorities monitor rodent-borne pathogens.
Survivors often experience lingering complications. Some face permanent kidney damage, respiratory weakness, or cardiac issues long after acute infection resolves. The psychological toll runs equally deep. Both survivors told the BBC that recovery demanded months of rehabilitation and mental processing around their brush with death.
Health agencies recommend avoiding contact with rodent-inhabited spaces, sealing food sources, and wearing protective gear when cleaning areas where rodents nested. No vaccine exists. Treatment focuses on supportive care in ICU settings, managing kidney function and oxygen levels as the immune system battles the virus.