The 22 people who were on the British repatriation flight are being monitored at a specialist medical centre on the Wirral.
The whole incident is causing consternation because of its high fatality rates.
Despite this, New Malden GP, Dr Nick Merrifield, explains why he feels there is no cause for alarm.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents but can be transmitted between people in rare cases, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
People most typically become infected when the virus in rodent droppings, saliva and urine becomes airborne, such as when areas where rats and mice have nested are swept out.
It is a family of viruses which can cause two illnesses: one that primarily affects the lungs and the other that attacks the kidneys.
It has been around for years, but made headlines when concert pianist Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, died from the disease in New Mexico last year, according to post-mortem results.
The Andes strain of hantavirus has been identified as the one that spread on the ship.
It circulates in parts of South America, including Argentina and Chile, and has been responsible for person-to-person transmission in the past.
