As the public remains highly concerned about the recent outbreak of Hantavirus, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) released a science article on May 8, titled “What is Hantavirus? How is it transmitted? How can we prevent it?”
The article explains that Hantavirus, also known as “Epidemic Hemorrhagic Fever” in China, is a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents, belonging to the Bunyaviridae family, Hantaviridae genus, and Orthohantavirus genus. There are over 20 known species of Hantavirus that can cause disease, with different species causing distinct clinical manifestations, mainly divided into two categories: Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).
Public data shows that HFRS is a high-risk area in China, with cases reported in all regions except Qinghai and Xinjiang. Patients are mainly male farmers and workers in their prime, but the virus can affect anyone. If left untreated, severe cases can be fatal.
Hantavirus infections are generally not transmitted from person to person, and everyday social interactions or public gatherings will not spread the virus.
However, in the recent outbreak on the transatlantic cruise ship, caused by the Andes virus, there have been isolated cases of person-to-person transmission, particularly in confined spaces where people live together for extended periods. Close contact or inhalation of aerosolized virus particles can lead to limited transmission.
The CCDC notes that the incidence of HFRS in China has been declining in recent years. The Andes virus has no natural hosts in China, and there have been no reported human cases.
Years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the global public health community is once again on high alert. However, most authorities and experts believe that the risk of a large-scale Hantavirus outbreak is low.
Countries with passengers on the affected cruise ship, including the Netherlands, Argentina, Switzerland, and the United States, are conducting contact tracing and control measures.
As of the time of writing, the cruise ship outbreak has resulted in three confirmed deaths, and 62 close contacts have been tracked down in multiple countries.
The United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) are coordinating with Cape Verde, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK to conduct medical assessments, patient transfers, and onboard control measures.
The WHO has reached a final agreement with the Spanish Ministry of Health, confirming that the cruise ship will dock in the Canary Islands. The ship is expected to arrive on May 9, and all onboard personnel will be evacuated and placed under medical isolation.
The WHO reported that it has received eight case reports, with five confirmed and three suspected cases. The Hantavirus strain involved in this outbreak is the Andes virus.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that this virus is found in Latin America and is the only known Hantavirus strain that can be transmitted between people, albeit in limited cases. In previous Andes virus outbreaks, person-to-person transmission has been linked to close contact, particularly among family members, intimate partners, and healthcare workers.
Given the Andes virus’s incubation period of up to six weeks, more cases may be reported in the future. However, the WHO assesses that the risk to public health remains relatively low.
Public information shows that the affected cruise ship, the “Hondius,” is registered in the Netherlands and departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, passing through Antarctica and other destinations before heading to the Canary Islands.
There are currently 149 people on board, including 88 passengers and 61 crew members from 23 different countries. Among the passengers, 19 are from the UK, 17 from the US, 13 from Spain, and 8 from the Netherlands.
According to the Chinese Embassy in Cape Verde, there are no Chinese citizens on board. Cape Verde is located in West Africa, and the country’s health department refused to allow the “Hondius” to dock at the port of Praia on May 4, citing a respiratory disease outbreak on board.
The WHO stated on May 7 that it has identified eight cases on the “Hondius,” with five confirmed. The overall public health risk associated with this outbreak remains relatively low.
US President Trump said on the same day that he hopes the Hantavirus outbreak is “under control.” The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to release a comprehensive report.
