The hantavirus

By: Janessa Castro Cruz

3D medical animation still showing Hantavirus. 14 October 2019 by: https://www.scientificanimations.com via Wikimedia Commons

Hantaviruses are a bunch of viruses that infect rodents like rats, and mice, and are transmitted to humans and can cause severe disease in humans when exposed to their urine and droppings. When the virus reaches the lungs they invade tiny blood vessels, causing them to leak, resulting in severe trouble with lung and heart functions. They cause diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

It was first recognized in the 1950s as outbreaks occurred during the Korean War. Almost 3,000 troops and nations got sick with kidney failure, high fevers and bleeding. The cause was unknown until the discovery 25 years later. The virus was named after the Hantaan River in Korea and as the virus started to spread more across the world. It was given the collective name of hantaviruses.

An outbreak occurred on a cruise ship that left three people dead in 2026. They believe it started when a couple prior to boarding the ship had gone to birdwatch and on that trip they visited sites where there was a species of rat that’s known to carry hantavirus.

The virus is typically transmitted with contact to rodents but this outbreak was identified as the Andes virus which is the only type that is transmitted through human to human contact. It’s believed to spread between people who had close contact, within 6-feet of each other, for at least 15 minutes.

People who are infected by HPS can have symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and nausea and the disease is deadly. People who are infected by HFRS can have symptoms like intense headaches, lack of blood flow, and internal bleeding, and complete recovery can take several weeks. The symptoms can lead to life-threatening lung and heart problems. There is no treatment for hantavirus but patients should receive care for their symptoms.

For more information, please visit: