Officials in Arizona, Georgia monitoring some hantavirus cruise ship passengers who have returned to US

What Is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease spread primarily through exposure to infected rodents, especially through urine, droppings, or saliva. People can become infected when contaminated particles become airborne and are inhaled.

The virus is not commonly spread from person to person in the forms most often found in the United States, according to health experts.