Tag Archives: Hantavirus

Understanding the Hantavirus: Origins, Spread, and Prevention

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MV Hondius anchored off Cape Verde

The cruise ship MV Hondius is anchored off the coast of Cape Verde.

AFP/Getty Images

Three individuals showing symptoms of hantavirus were evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius after an outbreak that
tragically claimed the lives of three passengers. The evacuees are set to receive medical care in the Netherlands.

The ship embarked from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1st, journeying across the South Atlantic with stops in Antarctica,
South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena, and Ascension Island.

Two fatalities occurred onboard, and a third individual died in South Africa two days post-disembarkation in St. Helena.
Additionally, a British passenger remains in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa.

A Swiss man who disembarked at the end of April also tested positive for hantavirus after exhibiting symptoms. The Britain’s
Health and Safety Executive noted that two asymptomatic British passengers from the ship are currently self-isolating at home.

Understanding Hantavirus

Hantaviruses belong to a category of viruses carried by rodents that can lead to severe illness in humans. Infection typically
occurs through contact with infected rodents or their excreta.

Different hantaviruses are linked to varying clinical syndromes across different global regions. In the Americas,
hantaviruses can trigger a critical respiratory condition known as hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS),
carrying a mortality rate of up to 50% among diagnosed cases. In Europe and Asia, they cause hemorrhagic fever with
renal syndrome (HFRS), largely impacting the kidneys and blood vessels.

Globally, estimates suggest around 10,000 to over 100,000 hantavirus infections annually, predominantly in Asia and Europe.

According to South Africa’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases, two individuals who disembarked from the ship tested
positive for Andes virus, a type of hantavirus associated with HCPS. It’s believed this virus can be transmitted between
humans through prolonged close contact.

Symptoms of Hantavirus

Initial symptoms often include fever, muscle pain, headache, and gastrointestinal issues, with some patients advancing
to develop respiratory complications. Diagnosis typically relies on specialized blood tests.

Transmission Routes of Hantavirus

The primary mode of infection is through contact with infected rodents, especially inhaling the virus from contaminated
rodent urine, feces, or saliva.

Due to this, investigations into suspected cases often concentrate on identifying potential exposure to rodent-contaminated
environments such as grocery stores, ship cabins, or storage areas. Hantaviruses are not generally considered easily
transmissible between humans, as explained by Roger Hewson
from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Infection may also arise from a rodent bite. Activities such as cleaning poorly ventilated spaces, farming, forestry
work, or sleeping in rodent-infected areas elevate the risk of exposure.

As noted by the WHO, human-to-human transmission has only been recorded in cases of Andes virus in the Americas and is
deemed rare. When transmission occurs, it typically involves prolonged close contact, particularly among family members
or intimate partners, especially in the early disease stages when the virus is more transmissible.

Current Spread of Infection: A Cause for Concern?

According to Adam Taylor,
a researcher at Lancaster University in the UK, there is no need for public alarm. “Transmission of hantaviruses usually
requires contact with animal products, rather than human-to-human spread,” he stated. “Precautions are being implemented
onboard to minimize risk, but these are just safety measures.”

Hewson emphasized that one should not hastily conclude the cruise ship setting is the source of infection. “The connection
of confirmed cases to a single ship does not inherently suggest that exposure occurred aboard. It could also have taken
place prior to embarkation, during shore excursions, or from other common environmental sources,” he remarked. “This is
why public health surveillance, laboratory confirmations, and ideally, viral sequencing are crucial.”

Article Updated on May 6, 2026

Correction made regarding the details about a Swiss man who tested positive for hantavirus.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

WHO Declares Hantavirus Outbreaks Won’t Lead to Pandemics Like COVID-19

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Hantavirus Infection Alert

A medical worker is transported by ambulance following a suspected hantavirus infection case in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Peter Dejong/Associated Press/Alamy

The World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that a hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship is unlikely.

During a press conference, WHO scientists aimed to alleviate global concerns about potential pandemics, reassuring the public there is no immediate threat akin to a coronavirus resurgence. The committee emphasized that it would continue addressing all inquiries from journalists and highlighted the significance of staying calm given the situation onboard.

“This is not a novel coronavirus, nor is it influenza,” explained WHO’s Maria van Kerkhove. “This is neither the initiation of an epidemic nor a pandemic.”

Currently, five cases of hantavirus infection have been confirmed, with three additional suspected cases. Unfortunately, three individuals have succumbed to the virus.

Two patients hospitalized in the Netherlands and one in intensive care in South Africa are reportedly recovering, according to the WHO.

Hantaviruses, transmitted through rodents, can lead to severe health complications in humans. Infection usually occurs via contact with contaminated rodent materials such as urine, feces, or saliva.

Tests conducted on two passengers on the ship indicated the presence of the Andes virus, the only known hantavirus capable of being transmitted between humans.

This specific hantavirus can lead to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a severe illness with a mortality rate of up to 50%.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged the possibility of additional cases emerging in the coming weeks, given the virus’s six-week incubation period.

Nevertheless, he stated that the public health risk is low, as the virus necessitates close contact for transmission. Effective contact tracing and global cooperation can curtail the spread.

All countries involved in addressing the crisis are fully cooperating, Ghebreyesus noted.

Abdirahman Mahmoud from the WHO reassured attendees, stating, “There is no need for widespread panic.” He emphasized that only those showing symptoms should be isolated, while “active surveillance” is sufficient for potentially exposed individuals.

Mahmoud compared the current situation to the Andes virus outbreak in Argentina that affected 34 individuals and resulted in 11 fatalities between November 2018 and February 2019, which began at a birthday gathering. Although significant, the outbreak did not proliferate extensively in the community.

“The main concern remains the potential for limited human-to-human transmission,” noted Luis Marcos from the Stony Brook School of Medicine in New York in an interview with New Scientist. “However, such transmission appears inefficient and can typically be controlled through standard public health measures.”

“In summary, the risk of widespread infection remains minimal, and the current level of concern may be excessive,” he assessed.

Marcos projected that around 10 to 15 passengers on the cruise could contract the virus, asserting that the current quarantine measures onboard are adequate and “there is no risk of a pandemic.”

Luis Escobar from Virginia Tech emphasized the necessity of taking the hantavirus threat seriously. “We acknowledge that hantaviruses possess the potential for a pandemic, especially those causing respiratory syndromes,” he asserted.

Escobar and his research team published findings in 2025 indicating a broader range of hosts for the virus than previously recognized. They analyzed over 14,000 blood samples for 49 hantavirus species, identifying new rodent species as hosts and noting specific hotspots in Colorado, Virginia, and Texas for the virus.

Despite the current outbreak, Escobar believes public health measures will mitigate the chances of a larger pandemic event.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship: Origins and Insights into the Deadly Virus

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The cruise ship MV Hondius is anchored off the coast of Cape Verde.

AFP/Getty Images

An outbreak of hantavirus has been reported on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, anchored off the coast of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean. This virus can result in severe illness in humans, with a mortality rate of up to 50%.

So far, seven individuals have been infected, with three fatalities confirmed.

Understanding Hantavirus

Hantaviruses are a category of viruses carried by rodents known to cause severe illnesses in humans. Infection typically occurs through exposure to infected rodents or their urine, feces, or saliva.

Different hantaviruses cause various clinical syndromes across the globe. In the Americas, they can lead to a severe illness known as hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), which has a fatality rate of about 50%. In Europe and Asia, they primarily cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), affecting kidneys and blood vessels.

It is estimated that there are 10,000 to over 100,000 hantavirus infections annually worldwide, with the highest rates in Asia and Europe.

The specific strain of hantavirus affecting those on board the ship remains unidentified. “There are multiple species, at least 24, that can be harmful to humans,” says Adam Taylor, a researcher at Lancaster University, UK. “Until we determine which strains are involved, we cannot fully understand the situation.”

Where Was the Ship Located?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been notified of this outbreak. On May 2, a statement announced an outbreak of severe acute respiratory illness onboard the MV Hondius, including two fatalities and one critically ill passenger.

The cruise departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, 2026, and traveled across the South Atlantic, with stops including Antarctica, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena, and Ascension Island. WHO identified the Argentine port as a focal point for investigations into the outbreak due to the presence of the Andes virus, known for limited person-to-person transmission in South America.

A total of 147 individuals from 23 nationalities were onboard, consisting of 88 passengers and 59 crew members. The extent of contact with local wildlife during the voyage remains unclear, as per WHO’s statement.

What Are the Symptoms of Hantavirus?

Initial symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues. Some patients may develop respiratory complications. Diagnosis typically involves specialized blood tests.

How Does Hantavirus Spread?

The primary route of infection is contact with infected rodents, particularly through inhalation of virus particles from contaminated rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.

“For this reason, investigations often focus on potential exposure to rodent-contaminated areas,” stated Roger Hewson from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “Hantaviruses are not generally believed to be easily transmissible between humans.”

While rarer, infection may also occur through rodent bites. High-risk activities include cleaning poorly ventilated spaces, farming, and sleeping in rodent-infested environments. According to WHO, human-to-human transmission has only been recorded for the Andes virus in the Americas, occurring with close and prolonged contact, mainly among family and intimate partners, particularly during the early stages of the disease.

Current Outlook on the Infection Spread

According to Taylor, there is no need for panic. “Transmission of hantaviruses usually requires contact with animal products, not person-to-person contact,” he emphasized. “While precautions are in place on board, they are just that—precautions.”

Hewson added that it’s crucial not to make assumptions based on the cruise ship context. “Infection confirmation among passengers does not clarify whether the exposure occurred on the ship, prior to embarkation, during shore excursions, or through common environmental contact,” he remarked. “Therefore, public health surveillance, lab confirmations, and possible virus sequencing are vital.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Warning Issued by Arizona Officials About Possible Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak

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Arizona public health officials are cautioning about the hantavirus, a disease that spreads from rodents to humans and has led to an increase in a deadly pulmonary syndrome. The Arizona Department of Health Services has reported seven confirmed cases and three deaths in the past six months. For more information, check out the recent health alerts.

Most hantavirus cases are seen in the Western and Southwestern U.S., with most states reporting one to four cases per year. Two cases have been reported in California this year. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for hantavirus.

Arizona is recognized as one of the countries with the highest total number of reported infections. This outbreak marks the first hantavirus outbreak in the United States since 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Arizona from 2016 to 2022, there have been 11 reported cases of hantavirus, with four cases in 2016, two in 2017, four in 2020, and one in 2022.

Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, warns that hantaviruses can cause severe and potentially fatal respiratory infections, especially transmitted by rodents like deer mice.

San Diego County and the California Department of Public Health have also noted increased hantavirus activity this year.

Why are Arizona’s cases increasing?

The CDC has reported 850 cases from 1993 to 2021, averaging about 30 cases per year.

Changes in rodent populations affected by season and weather conditions could be contributing to the increase in hantavirus cases in Arizona. People are more likely to come into contact with rodents during the summer when they are more active.

Climate change and extreme weather events may also play a role in the spread of hantavirus.

Dr. Camilo Mora, a professor at the University of Hawaii, warns that climate change could impact the spread of disease-carrier species, leading to potential outbreaks.

Experts emphasize the need for careful handling of rodent excrement and avoidance of contact with rodents to prevent hantavirus infections.

Hantavirus Symptoms

Hantavirus particles are released into the air when disturbed, leading to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).

HPS symptoms may appear 1 to 8 weeks after contact with an infected rodent and can progress to serious lung infections if left untreated.

  • fever
  • malaise
  • muscle pain
  • nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain

Approximately 38% of people with pulmonary symptoms from hantavirus may die from the disease.

How to Prevent Hantavirus

Cleaning up rodent excrement and avoiding contact with rodents are key prevention measures according to experts.

Spring cleaning activities like opening and cleaning closed spaces could increase the risk of rodent infestation and hantavirus exposure.

Proper precautions should be taken when entering closed and unoccupied spaces that may have rodents present.

Source: www.nbcnews.com