Hantavirus has recently been making headlines following reports of an outbreak linked to a cruise ship allegedly originating from Argentina, prompting concerns over whether the virus is unique to South America.
However, the virus is not exclusive to any single region. Hantavirus is carried primarily by wild rodents such as rats, mice and voles, which can harbour the virus without showing symptoms.
Humans become infected when they inhale airborne particles contaminated with infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva.
The virus was first recognised in Asia, dating back to the Korean War in the 1950s, when thousands of United Nations soldiers fell ill with a severe illness involving bleeding and kidney failure.
It was only decades later, in 1978, that scientists isolated the virus near the Hantan River in South Korea, giving hantavirus its name. The Korean strain is known to cause serious symptoms including fever, bleeding and kidney failure.
In the 1990s, a separate outbreak in the United States revealed another strain linked to respiratory illness, particularly following a surge in deer mouse populations.
Experts say the South American “Andes strain” is the only variant known to potentially spread between humans, although this typically requires very close contact such as prolonged physical interaction.
While concerns have been raised about cruise ship transmission, health specialists stress that hantavirus is very different from COVID-19 and is far less likely to spread widely or cause a global pandemic.
Unlike highly contagious respiratory viruses, hantavirus does not transmit easily between people and also mutates much more slowly.
Symptoms vary depending on the strain but can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and in severe cases, respiratory failure or kidney damage, which can be fatal if not treated promptly.
There is currently no specific cure for hantavirus, with treatment focusing on supportive hospital care such as ventilation or dialysis in severe cases.
Preventive measures focus mainly on avoiding rodent exposure, maintaining clean environments, sealing entry points at home, and avoiding contact with individuals who show symptoms of illness.
