Andes Hantavirus Explained: What is Andes Hantavirus, which created panic from cruise ship to Argentina?

What is Andes Hantavirus: The world has once again become alert about a virus whose name very few people had heard before. This is Andes Hantavirus. This rare but extremely dangerous virus associated with South America has increased the concern of scientists and health agencies. Recently, many passengers fell ill on a cruise ship named MV Hondius, after which investigation suspected Andes virus infection. The same virus spread in the small village of Apuen in Argentina in 2018, where 11 people died.

According to experts, Andes Hantavirus is different and more dangerous than other Hantaviruses, because it can spread from human to human. This is the reason why WHO and scientists are monitoring it considering it as a possible public health emergency.

What is Andes Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a virus usually spread by rats and other rodents. Humans become sick by coming in contact with the feces, urine or saliva of infected rats, but Andes virus is a strain of this family that can also spread between humans. This virus is mainly found in South America, especially Argentina and Chile. According to scientists, it is found in a rat named Long-tailed pygmy rice rat.

How does Andes Hantavirus spread?

According to experts, the most dangerous aspect of Andes Hantavirus is its person-to-person transmission. That means an infected person can infect another person also. In the 2018 Apuan outbreak, scientists found that

• An infected person is most contagious the day the fever arrives.
• Even contact of just a few minutes can spread the infection.
• At a birthday party, 5 people got infected after being present for just 90 minutes.
• A woman had infected 10 other people by attending her husband’s funeral.

However, experts also say that its infection window is very small. Therefore it does not spread as fast as Covid.

What are the symptoms of Andes Hantavirus?

The initial symptoms of Andes hantavirus can be similar to the common flu, including;

• high fever
• body pain
• weakness
• Headache
• difficulty breathing

In severe cases, the patient may suffer from pneumonia and serious lung infection. Many patients reach ICU. According to WHO, its mortality rate can be up to 40%.

Why is Antiz Hantavirus considered dangerous?

Scientists are most concerned about the long incubation period of Antibes Hantavirus, i.e. the long interval between infection and onset of symptoms. In many cases, symptoms appeared after 2 to 6 weeks. This makes it extremely difficult to track infected people. This creates more anxiety in a closed environment like a cruise ship.

What is the MV Hondius Cruise Ship case?

Recently many passengers on a cruise ship named MV Hondius fell ill. Initially doctors thought that it could be bird flu or Legionella infection, but later testing found it to be Hantavirus positive. Now scientists are doing genome sequencing of the entire virus to find out where the virus came from and whether there is any new mutation in it.

Does the world need to panic?

At present, experts are not considering it as a Covid-like situation. He says that this virus spreads under very limited circumstances. Nevertheless WHO and scientists are continuously monitoring because;

• It can spread from person to person
• the death rate is very high
• Its behavior is not yet fully understood

Infectious disease experts believe that this has become a very important case study for scientists. More cases related to this may come to light in the coming time.