Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, appeared on Scott Sloan’s show on 700 WLW to discuss facts about Hantavirus, according to a May 12 statement.
Fichtenbaum said that Hantavirus is different from viruses like Covid-19. “It is a very dangerous virus, but the one thing we know is it doesn’t pass between humans, and it’s not like measles, or flu or Covid, which rapidly passes between human beings. This one usually happens much more with exposure to rodents.” He explained that unlike other viruses that spread easily among people, Hantavirus typically requires close contact for transmission.
He also said that situations such as living in tight quarters—like on a cruise ship—can increase risk. Many Americans who recently left a cruise ship linked to an outbreak are now being monitored by infectious disease experts. “The incubation period of this virus can go up to six weeks, so individuals are going to be watched for that period of time,” Fichtenbaum said. He noted that initial symptoms may resemble other infections but can become more severe than typical flu cases.
Fichtenbaum highlighted challenges with treatment and prevention: “It’s a pretty dangerous virus,” he said. “And the main reason is we don’t have an effective therapy for it. We don’t have an effective prevention for it. There’s no real effective vaccine you can take that lowers the chance of you getting it.” Despite these concerns, he reassured listeners about the broader risk: “We don’t need to hit the panic button right now,” he said.
The discussion underscores ongoing efforts by health professionals to monitor potential outbreaks while informing the public about realistic risks and preventive measures.