For now, there is no need to panic. But we should be cautious and careful
The world has barely recovered from one pandemic when another unfamiliar virus has begun making headlines. Reports of a deadly hantavirus outbreak on an international cruise ship have triggered anxiety across the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the hantavirus infection on the cruise ship, as well as several deaths. Two Indian nationals were also aboard the cruise which reported a hantavirus outbreak. They have been evacuated to the Netherlands and are healthy and asymptomatic according to the Embassy of India in Spain.
However, there is no need to panic, though the situation deserves scientific attention and surveillance.
Risk factors
Unlike influenza or Covid-19, hantaviruses are not primarily spread through casual human contact, as these are usually carried by rodents.
Humans can become infected when they inhale particles contaminated with infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva, while cleaning poorly ventilated closed spaces.
Different hantaviruses circulate in different parts of the world. In Asia and Europe, these viruses mainly affect kidneys and cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). In the Americas, certain strains can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe and fatal lung infection.
Symptoms
Post-infection, symptoms can mimic a viral flu, and include fever, severe body ache, headache, fatigue, nausea or stomach upset. In serious cases, patients suddenly develop breathlessness, have falling oxygen levels and may go into shock. Lab findings include low platelet count (typically below 150,000/µ), elevated liver enzymes and respiratory compromise. Early recognition and timely intensive care improve survival chances.
Why Andes virus is cause of concern
Among the many hantaviruses’ strains, the Andes virus from South America is of special concern because unlike other strains, which spread from rodents to humans, Andes virus does have limited human-to-human transmission, as seen during an outbreak in Argentina in 2018–2019.
An article in New England Journal of Medicine documented 34 infections and 11 deaths in that outbreak. Most infections were through social interactions and prolonged contact with symptomatic individuals. Here too, like in Covid-19, few infected individuals acted as ‘super-spreaders’ in crowds. Yet, transmission was far less than in Covid-19 or flu.
Post-recent outbreak, scientists caution against drawing comparisons to Covid-19. WHO currently assesses the risk to the global population as low. Investigators are still determining whether exposure occurred through rodents during travel, environmental contamination, or limited person-to-person spread.
The good news is that India has never seen any major hantavirus outbreaks. Some studies, including serological surveys from CMC, Vellore, have suggested possible prior exposure in limited populations. However, clinically significant disease remains extremely rare in the country. Importantly, in case of a possible outbreak, India is fully prepared.
The ICMR and the National Institute of Virology, Pune, have the capability and capacity to perform RT-PCR testing, serological diagnosis and advanced virological analysis needed to detect hantavirus. Such infections require strict biosafety handling and expert surveillance.
Fear among public is understandable but unnecessary. Because, transmission of Andes virus generally requires close, prolonged exposure rather than casual day-to-day contact. So, serious disease does not automatically mean highly contagious disease.
Seek medical care if severe fever or breathing difficulty develops after rodent exposure or travel to affected areas
— The writer is HoD, Microbiology, GMCH, Chandigarh
Preventive measures
Vigilance without panic
Surveillance, rapid diagnosis and international cooperation remain essential. But people should avoid misinformation and fear-driven reactions, especially on social media. Hantavirus is not the “the next pandemic,” but as a serious infection that requires scientific vigilance, strong public health preparedness and calm, evidence-based communication.
Factcheck: Hantavirus studies in India have confirmed the presence of the virus, particularly in South India, with sporadic human cases reported, although no large-scale outbreaks have occurred. Research indicates about 4 per cent seropositivity in the general population, with higher risks for individuals near rodents. Studies in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, found serological evidence of hantaviruses in small mammals like bandicoot rats and black rats. In South India human cases involving fever, abdominal pain, and renal dysfunction have been reported. Contact with rodent droppings, saliva, or urine, especially while cleaning poorly ventilated areas, raises infection risk. Source: Journal of Biosciences
