Can hantavirus spread from person to person?

Generally no. Andes virus, the strain in the 2026 MV Hondius cluster, is the only known hantavirus capable of limited human-to-human transmission among very close prolonged contacts such as household members or caregivers.

Should I be worried if I was not on MV Hondius?

WHO assesses global risk as low. If you were not on the MV Hondius and were not in close contact with a confirmed case, your hantavirus risk is essentially zero. There is no community spread.

Is there a vaccine or treatment for hantavirus?

No vaccine or specific antiviral exists in Europe or the Americas. Treatment is supportive — oxygen, fluids, mechanical ventilation in ICU. Early hospitalisation significantly improves survival.

What are the first symptoms of hantavirus?

Early symptoms appear one to eight weeks after exposure: fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, chills. The dangerous phase follows four to ten days later when lungs fill with fluid. Seek immediate care if respiratory distress develops after potential rodent exposure.

What is Andes virus and why is it different?

Andes virus is endemic to Argentina and Chile. It is the only hantavirus in the world known to transmit between humans, and only with very close prolonged contact. All other strains spread only from rodents to humans.

How deadly is hantavirus?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has a case-fatality rate of approximately 36% in the Americas — far higher than seasonal influenza. It is rare: fewer than 1,000 cases recorded in the United States since 1993.

How can I protect myself from hantavirus?

Avoid contact with wild rodents and their droppings, urine, or nesting material. Never sweep dry in rodent-affected areas — always use gloves and an N95 respirator, wet-disinfect with a 1:10 bleach dilution, and seek emergency care if fever and breathing difficulty develop after potential exposure.

Hanta Hub — MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak Tracker

Live tracker for the 2026 MV Hondius Andes hantavirus cluster: 13 cases (11 confirmed, 2 probable) and 3 deaths, case-fatality ratio 23%, per WHO Disease Outbreak News DON604 as of 27 May 2026 (ECDC, 26 May). Risk to the general public assessed as low.

Also tracking: 2026 DRC Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak — live Ebola Hub tracker

Ebola Symptoms 2026 — Bundibugyo phases
Bundibugyo Virus — what BDBV is
Ebola Vaccine and Treatment 2026
US Enhanced Airport Screening
2026 DRC Outbreak Timeline
Bundibugyo Virus in Goma