DistantNews
🇧🇪 Belgium /Health & Science

How contagious is hantavirus and should we fear a new pandemic? 4 questions and answers

From VRT NWS · (9h ago) Dutch Mixed tone

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Three crew members have died from hantavirus infections aboard the cruise ship Hondius, with one death's cause undetermined.
  • The virus, identified as the Andes strain, is spread by rodents and can cause severe respiratory illness, with a fatality rate of up to 30% in some cases.
  • While human-to-human transmission is possible but rare, health officials are investigating the route of infection and isolating contacts to prevent further spread.

An outbreak of hantavirus on the cruise ship Hondius has raised concerns, particularly after three crew members succumbed to the infection. The virus, identified as the Andes strain, has prompted health workers in Praia, Cape Verde, to take precautionary measures during the evacuation of sick passengers. While the situation is serious, virologists are cautioning against panic, emphasizing that hantavirus is not as contagious as coronaviruses.

The Andes virus, prevalent in North and South America, can lead to severe symptoms including high fever and respiratory distress. The World Health Organization notes its higher incidence in Argentina, where the Ministry of Health reported 101 infections since June 2025, double the previous year's count. The cruise ship outbreak is particularly concerning as two of the three fatalities were Dutch nationals, suggesting they may have introduced the virus aboard before the ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina.

It is not a very contagious virus

— Steven Van GuchtAssessing the contagiousness of the hantavirus and downplaying fears of a widespread outbreak.

Investigations are underway to trace the infected individuals' travel routes through Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina to pinpoint the source of the infection. Health authorities are focusing on identifying rodents in areas connected to the couple's travels and isolating anyone who had contact with them. A complicating factor is the virus's incubation period, which can range from one to eight weeks, making it difficult to determine the exact time of transmission.

Although human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus is possible, it is considered rare and requires close contact. Virologist Steven Van Gucht reassured the public that the virus's limited contagiousness reduces the likelihood of a widespread epidemic. Nonetheless, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with travel and the importance of monitoring infectious diseases, especially in enclosed environments like cruise ships.

You really need close contact. In that sense, I am not very worried that this will spread much further

— Steven Van GuchtReassuring the public about the limited human-to-human transmission of the virus.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog