Arizona photojournalist Gilbert Zermeño, who contracted hantavirus 24 years ago after losing his mother and sister to the illness, finds the recent outbreak difficult to process. Zermeño was infected in 2002 after exposure to rodent droppings while cleaning his family home in Texas. The current outbreak, linked to a Dutch-flagged cruise ship, has resulted in nine confirmed or suspected cases, including three deaths. Despite public concern, Zermeño emphasizes that hantavirus is not as alarming as COVID-19, urging people to research the illness. Health officials, including the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, assure that the risk of a pandemic is low due to the virus’s limited human-to-human transmission. Zermeño advises listening to medical professionals and having a plan if exposed. His mother and sister were initially misdiagnosed, highlighting the challenges of diagnosing this rare illness.
QUESTION: How might increased awareness and accurate information about hantavirus impact public perception and response to future outbreaks?
Man who survived hantavirus 24 years ago, but lost mom and sister, recounts experience
