As Hantavirus continues making headlines and circulating across social media feeds, many people are wondering the same thing: How concerned should we actually be? For many, the current situation is stirring up an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu, bringing back memories of the uncertainty and anxiety that surrounded the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why is this relevant? : In recent news there has been a Hauntavirus outbreak on a MV Hondius cruise, which is operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. A rare cluster of 13 cases of the Andes hantavirus (a strain capable of person-to-person transmission) resulted in 3 deaths. The virus was primarily contracted in South America before passengers boarded. The virus was acquired during excursions in Patagonia and passed it among close contacts in the confined quarters of the cruise ship, according to an article published by the CDC. There has been widespread public concern surrounding this virus, with many people comparing the Hauntavirus to COVID-19. This public concern is quickly spreading into mass hysteria as more cases are confirmed. Public health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (The CDC), have stated that the risk to the general public is “extremely low.” It does not spread like a highly transmissible respiratory virus. Knowing the real facts on how it can spread, safety measures to take and understanding the risk you face when in contact with someone who carries this virus can help prevent further infection.
How it started: Hantaviruses do not “start” in the same way as a single point-source outbreak; they are a family of viruses that have existed naturally in wild rodents for centuries. The virus spills over to humans when a person comes into contact with the urine, droppings, or saliva of an infected rodent, usually by inhaling contaminated airborne dust. Hantaviruses are ancient and evolved alongside specific rodent species over thousands of years. The virus first came to widespread medical attention during the Korean War (1951–1953), where over 3,000 United Nations troops fell ill with Korean hemorrhagic fever. However, it wasn’t until 1978 that researchers officially isolated the virus from the striped field mouse near the Hantan River in South Korea, leading to the name Hantaan virus, according to the National Institute of Health
How it spreads: While humans typically contract hantavirus only from infected rodents, specific strains native to South America (such as the Andes virus) can be transmitted directly from person to person. For example, this variant caused an outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius when passengers acquired the virus during excursions in Patagonia and passed it among close contacts in confined quarters.
Difference between the Hantavirus and COVID-19 : Hantavirus is fundamentally different from COVID-19 because it is far less contagious, rarely spreads between humans, and requires close contact to transmit, whereas COVID-19 is a highly transmissible airborne virus. Additionally, hantavirus has a much longer incubation period, does not mutate rapidly, and carries a significantly higher mortality rates according to an article published by Forbes
Expert opinion: Public health officials, such as those at the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stress that while hantavirus is a serious and deadly disease, its inability to spread casually makes it nearly impossible to trigger a global pandemic like COVID-19. Diagnosing hantavirus in a person who has been infected less than 72 hours is difficult. If the initial test is done before the virus can be found, repeat testing is often done 72 hours after symptoms start. Early symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue are easily confused with influenza according to the CDC. If you suspect hantavirus disease, see a physician immediately and mention a potential rodent exposure.
