After the evacuation of over 100 passengers from a luxury cruise ship affected by hantavirus, health officials globally are closely monitoring more than two dozen individuals who disembarked. This includes 18 Americans currently placed in biocontainment units in Nebraska and Georgia.
According to the director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, all 11 confirmed hantavirus cases so far involve passengers or crew from the ship, with the outbreak accounting for three fatalities.
Hantaviruses generally spread when contaminated rodent droppings and urine become airborne. The particular strain found on the MV Hondius is the Andes virus, noted for its ability to transmit between humans. Health authorities indicate that while this virus poses severe health risks, the current outbreak is not expected to escalate into a global emergency akin to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Right now, we don’t see indications of a larger outbreak beginning,” Ghebreyesus remarked. Still, he added that the virus’s lengthy incubation period could potentially lead to more cases appearing over the upcoming weeks.
In a conversation with an infectious disease specialist from the University of Florida Health, Nicole Iovine discussed the nature of the Andes virus and its potential for causing a major outbreak.
WIRED: How similar is the Andes virus to SARS-CoV-2, and what is its infectiousness?
Nicole Iovine: There’s really no similarity. This cruise ship incident is unlikely to turn into a worldwide pandemic, and one reason is that the Andes virus isn’t nearly as contagious as Covid. It primarily targets the lungs and doesn’t spread through the upper airways, making human-to-human transmission more challenging.
What are the early signs of Andes virus infection? They seem vague but can become serious quickly.
Symptoms can appear anywhere from about five days to six weeks after exposure, which sets it apart from Covid. Initially, expect general symptoms like fever, headaches, fatigue, and muscle pain—similar to various infections, including the flu.
Is the Andes virus airborne?
Not quite. It requires prolonged close contact for transmission. It’s different from measles, where the virus can linger in the air. Hantavirus doesn’t operate in the same way.
