Hantavirus Not Like Coronavirus: Virologist Milanko Šekler Explains Transmission

The emergence of Hantavirus on the Dutch cruise ship 'MV Hondius' has captured public attention, particularly after three passengers succumbed to the illness and authorities in the Canary Islands refused the vessel entry. This incident, while concerning, is being contextualized by Serbian virologist Milanko Šekler, who emphasizes that Hantavirus is not a novel threat and its transmission patterns are well-understood.

Šekler, a virologist and microbiologist at the Veterinary Institute in Kraljevo, explained to RTS that the primary reservoir for Hantavirus is rodents, and human infection typically occurs through inhaling aerosols contaminated by animal excretions. He stressed that direct human-to-human transmission is limited, estimating a low probability within households and a slightly higher chance in intimate partnerships. This scientific perspective aims to temper public alarm, differentiating Hantavirus from more easily transmissible viruses.

“

The probability of transmission within the same household is likely three percent, while it increases to 17 percent in the case of an intimate partner relationship.

The virologist suggested that the outbreak on the cruise ship likely resulted from prolonged shared space in a poorly ventilated environment. He pointed to the initial infected couple's visit to a landfill in Argentina, a known habitat for rodents, prior to boarding the ship as a probable source of introduction. Šekler highlighted that while Hantavirus has caused fatalities before, the luxurious setting of the cruise ship has amplified media coverage and public concern.

From a Serbian perspective, the focus is on providing clear, scientific information to the public. Šekler's explanation serves to demystify the virus and reassure citizens that while caution is necessary, the situation does not warrant widespread panic. The article implicitly contrasts the international media's potentially alarmist coverage of a luxury cruise incident with a more grounded, scientific approach, emphasizing that Hantavirus infections, while serious, are manageable and often self-limiting, with quarantine measures being the standard response.

“

It's not the only case in the history of the world where Hantavirus has caused a person's death; we have had 15 or 20 deaths, but it wasn't a cruise ship, but communities of people, on the front lines in trenches.