Hantavirus outbreak sparks concern: Why experts say it is not another Covid
A recent outbreak of the rare Andes strain of hantavirus aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius has triggered global attention after multiple passengers died and several others were infected. While the development has revived memories of the Covid-19 pandemic, health experts and the World Health Organization (WHO) insist that hantavirus is far less likely to spread globally in the same way.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a group of viruses mainly carried by rodents. Humans usually become infected after inhaling virus particles from rodent urine, saliva or droppings, particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. The disease is considered rare but can become severe once symptoms progress.
The virus can cause two major illnesses:
- Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), which affects lungs and heart
- Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which mainly affects kidneys and blood vessels
Why experts say it is not like Covid
WHO officials have stressed that the current outbreak does not resemble the early spread pattern of Covid-19. Unlike coronavirus, hantavirus does not spread easily between humans in most cases.
Most hantavirus infections occur through direct exposure to infected rodents. Human-to-human transmission has only been documented in rare cases involving the Andes strain found in parts of South America. Even then, transmission generally requires close and prolonged contact.
Researchers say Covid became a pandemic because it spread rapidly through casual human interaction, including from people who showed no symptoms. Hantavirus behaves very differently and has historically remained limited in scale.
Symptoms can turn severe quickly
Early symptoms of hantavirus often resemble flu and may include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nausea or abdominal discomfort
As the illness worsens, patients may develop breathing difficulty as fluid accumulates in lungs. Some strains can also lead to internal bleeding and kidney failure.
Health experts warn that symptoms may appear one to eight weeks after exposure, making early detection difficult.
No specific cure yet
There is currently no approved antiviral treatment or vaccine for hantavirus. Doctors mainly rely on supportive care such as oxygen therapy, fluid management and intensive monitoring to improve survival chances.
How to reduce risk
Public health authorities recommend limiting exposure to rodents and contaminated environments. Safety measures include:
- Sealing holes and entry points in homes
- Storing food properly
- Avoiding dry sweeping of rodent droppings
- Using disinfectants and gloves while cleaning contaminated areas
- Improving ventilation in closed spaces
Rare but dangerous
Although hantavirus infections remain uncommon worldwide, the disease carries a high fatality rate in severe cases. WHO estimates that thousands of infections occur globally each year, mostly in Asia and Europe, while cases in the Americas remain relatively low but more deadly.
The recent cruise ship outbreak has raised concern mainly because the Andes strain can occasionally spread between people. However, experts continue to emphasise that the overall global risk remains low.
