Ontario County Probes Suspected Hantavirus Case, Urges Cleaning Precautions

Ontario County Public Health is investigating a possible locally acquired hantavirus case. There’s no link to cruise ship infections and no danger to the general public. Hantavirus spreads via rodent droppings, urine, and saliva, so cleaning spaces like attics, cabins, and sheds requires masks, gloves, and thorough hygiene; infections are rare since reporting began in 1995, and officials emphasize protective measures to reduce exposure.