Access TeleCare Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Jade Le appeared on Fox News’ The Will Cain Show to provide clinical perspective on the hantavirus outbreak involving the cruise ship MV Hondius.
A board-certified infectious disease specialist for nearly 20 years and a former Peace Corps volunteer, Dr. Le has cared for patients across international and U.S. locales. Through telemedicine, she has also treated patients with rare and unusual infections, including hantavirus, in communities across the country.
During the segment, Dr. Le emphasized that hantavirus does not spread as easily from person to person as more contagious respiratory viruses.
“The risk of getting hantavirus from person-to-person is exceedingly low,” Dr. Le told Cain.
To help put that risk in context, Dr. Le compared the likelihood of person-to-person transmission across several viruses:
- Hantavirus: 3% to 20%
- COVID-19: 3% to 55%
- Measles: More than 90%
Although a hantavirus infection can be serious, Dr. Le encouraged the public to keep the risk in perspective.
Her message for the public: stay informed, take reasonable precautions, but do not panic or cancel summer travel plans based on fear alone.
Watch a clip from the Will Cain Show segment with Dr. Le here.
You can watch the full show here (requires TV subscription).
