High School Student May Be Infected With Hantavirus in New York

A student at Geneva High School in Ontario County, New York, has been identified as the individual at the center of an investigation into a suspected case of hantavirus.

Ontario County health officials stressed that case is not connected to the outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius, and that any form of the virus contracted on the mainland United States is different: County Public Health Director Kate Ott in a statement to the media stressed that this version is “not spread person to person,” but rather “between mice and humans.”

“If I have it and I sneeze on you, you’re not going to get it,” Ott said. She added that the student suspected of an infection will not have to quarantine.

In a message from the school district to families, and seen by local outlet WHAM ABC 13, Superintendent Bo Wright said that the district understands the stress that a rare illness can cause and questions and concerns it raises among families, but that school personnel are working with the county Department of Health and following their guidance.

“As shared in our communication to families and staff, health officials have advised there is no evidence of risk to other students or staff related to this situation,” Wright said.

This is a breaking news story. Updates will follow.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 3:24 PM.