Mortality reaches 40%: what is hantavirus and does the world face a new pandemic?

      Epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists explained how the Andes hantavirus can enter Russia

      "The whole world is probably on edge"

      Today, the media, citing the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported that there are no signs of a larger outbreak of the Andes hantavirus. "Given the long incubation period of the virus, it is quite possible that the number of cases will increase in the coming weeks," said the WHO chief.

      In early April of this year, the tourist liner MV Hondius left the Argentine port of Ushuaia. On board were 147 people: 88 passengers from more than 20 countries and 59 crew members. Soon, a 70-year-old passenger from the Netherlands developed a fever and gastrointestinal distress. A few days later, he passed away.

      His widow disembarked and also died shortly after. Another passenger, a 69-year-old British citizen, fell ill on April 24. He was the first to have the hantavirus infection confirmed in the lab. On May 2, a third passenger, a German citizen, died on board. His symptoms appeared on April 28.

      On the morning of May 10, the ill-fated ship arrived at the final destination of its journey – the Canary Islands. Passengers were taken ashore in small boats and transported to airports. The aviation forces of several countries conducted evacuations of their citizens. They were advised to quarantine.

      Currently, nine passengers of the MV Hondius have tested positive for hantavirus. TASS, citing Sky News, reported that against the backdrop of alarming news, some passengers experienced nervous breakdowns.

      Today, the whole world is probably on edge due to the saga of the ship. After the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the global population is understandably anxious about any news of outbreaks of rare diseases. "Tatar-Inform" asked experts about the actual risks of mass infection with the virus and whether we should expect a new pandemic.

      The habitat of the virus – rodents

      "Hantaviruses are a large group of viruses. They are divided into two groups, depending on the disease that arises after infection. This is either hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome or hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome," said Dmitry Lopushov, the chief freelance epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health of Tatarstan.

      In both cases, the infected person experiences a rise in temperature and intoxication, and then either the kidneys are affected – pain, problems with urination, and renal failure occur, or pneumonia develops, affecting the heart.

      The reservoir for the virus is rodents. In this context, a reservoir is an organism that serves as a natural environment for the existence of the pathogen. Animals can become infected in a mild form, but the virus is always present in their bodies. It is excreted into the environment through their feces. For humans, the danger comes from objects contaminated with these excretions.

      "There are two major categories: hantaviruses of the Old World and the New World. HFRS is spread by rodents living in Europe and Asia, while the cardiopulmonary syndrome is spread by those living in North and South America. HFRS cannot occur in America, and CPS cannot occur in Eurasia, as rodents cannot cross the ocean," noted Dmitry Lopushov.

      Even if nothing is touched with hands, one can become infected by inhaling contaminated air. If the feces have dried and turned into dust, this dust can linger in the air of a room.

      "The virus cannot be transmitted from person to person indefinitely"

      According to Dmitry Lopushov, cases of HFRS transmission from person to person have been virtually unrecorded. As for CPS, such cases do exist. The disease can be transmitted from person to person through close contact.

      "On the flight that left from Argentina, there were people who visited rodent habitats for scientific purposes. Most likely, the infection occurred there. Then, in the confined space of the ship, further spread occurred. After the deceased man passed away, his wife, who cared for him, also died, meaning there was close contact," the doctor explained.

      An individual infected with the Andes hantavirus can enter Russia if they have passed sanitary and quarantine control, but the virus was in the incubation period at that time.

      "The average incubation period is about two weeks. The maximum period for the Andes hantavirus can reach five to six weeks, but this is rather rare," said Khalit Khayertynov, the chief infectious disease specialist of the Ministry of Health of Tatarstan, to "Tatar-Inform."

      However, there is no risk of an epidemic of the very disease that infected the passengers of the ship in Europe and Asia.

      "It is possible to get sick, but the disease will not spread further because there must be a natural reservoir, and those very rodents do not live here. The virus cannot be transmitted from person to person indefinitely," assured Dmitry Lopushov.

      Is a pandemic awaiting the planet?

      Reports are circulating online that tourists in the Atlantic Ocean were killed by a supposedly special, deadly strain of hantavirus. Khalit Khayertynov refuted this information.

      "We are not talking about some new virus. Hantavirus outbreaks occur periodically, including in our country. I think people are trying to draw parallels with the coronavirus. COVID also started with an outbreak on a cruise ship. Could Andes lead to a similar pandemic? No. COVID-19 is transmitted purely through airborne droplets, while hantavirus requires very close contact. These are different diseases. A pandemic or epidemic is impossible," emphasized the infectious disease specialist.

      Dmitry Lopushov added: with the coronavirus, the reservoir of the virus was the person themselves. Therefore, it is not possible to talk about a new pandemic on a planetary scale.

      "At the same time, hantavirus does lead to fatalities – that is a fact. The Western variant of the virus has a higher lethality than the one found in our region. According to literature, it can reach up to 40%," explained Khalit Khayertynov.

      There are no vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for the disease. Treatment is aimed at alleviating symptoms. In the worst case, if the kidneys are affected, dialysis may be required.

      Rospotrebnadzor is monitoring the situation with hantavirus infection

      In the Russian Federation, the epidemiological situation regarding HFRS is currently stable and controlled, reports Rospotrebnadzor. Systematic monitoring of the epidemiological situation in foreign countries is being conducted. In natural foci, specialists from the agency are assessing risks and exterminating infected rats and mice.

      "The Russian Federation has the necessary domestic test systems for diagnosing hantavirus infections, which allows for the rapid identification and localization of cases of the disease. Rospotrebnadzor laboratories are equipped with a sufficient number of diagnostic test systems for hantaviruses," reports Rospotrebnadzor RF.

      Enhanced sanitary and quarantine control is being conducted at all border crossing points of the Russian Federation. An automated information system "Perimeter" is used to assess and minimize risks.

      "Special attention is paid to continuously informing the public about preventive measures for HFRS. The situation is under the control of Rospotrebnadzor," reports the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing.

      Photo: © Vladimir Vasiliev / "Tatar-Inform"