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Rachel V Thomas

Immunotherapy Shows Early Promise Against Severe Hantavirus Lung Disease: Study

The recent hantavirus outbreak aboard the luxury ship MV Hondius, which drew global attention and raised concerns about the potential for wider spread, has highlighted the need for better therapeutics and vaccines.

The outbreak claimed three lives and infected 13 people. While those affected recovered from the infection, they had contracted the Andes strain, which carries a risk of human-to-human transmission. There is currently no specific antiviral drug or vaccine for the Andes virus.

Now, researchers writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases have reported early promising results for tocilizumab as a treatment for severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).

The researchers said tocilizumab warrants further evaluation as a treatment for severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/can-hantavirus-spread-through-semen-and-breast-milk-what-experts-say-article-154331715" data-type="tilCustomLink">Can Hantavirus Spread Through Semen And Breast Milk? What Experts Say</a>

The study is based on a case series involving 10 hantavirus patients treated at Hospital Zonal de Bariloche, Argentina, between June 1, 2024, and May 6, 2026.

Tocilizumab is an immunosuppressive medication used to treat severe inflammatory conditions, including severe COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers from San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, said that under an ethical framework allowing the emergency use of unproven medications outside clinical trials when no satisfactory alternatives exist, tocilizumab was administered to five eligible patients with laboratory-confirmed severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Five other patients received standard supportive care without Tocilizumab because they were too sick or the medication was unavailable when treatment was being considered. The case series represents the first descriptive report from a larger ongoing study.

India Should Focus On More Hantavirus Surveillance: Dr NK Ganguly On Hantavirus Outbreak

Four of the five patients treated with Tocilizumab survived and were discharged from intensive care, whereas all five patients who did not receive Tocilizumab died shortly after admission to intensive care.

There is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for the Andes strain, underscoring the importance of further research into potential therapies such as tocilizumab.

However, the authors said, "the findings should not be interpreted as evidence for the implementation of routine use of Tocilizumab to treat severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, but they do support the need for urgent further research".

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.

Globally, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 hantavirus infections occur each year. The majority of cases are reported in Asia, particularly China. Most infections are sporadic or occur in small clusters linked to contact with infected rodents.

In humans, hantavirus infection can cause severe illness and death, although disease severity varies depending on the virus strain and geographical region.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a severe viral disease caused by the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus endemic in several regions of the Americas, including Argentina and Chile. In recent years, parts of Argentina have seen an increase in hantavirus cases.

The severe respiratory illness can rapidly become fatal. Reported fatality rates range from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, depending on the outbreak setting, quality of medical care, and surveillance capacity.

Hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with infected rodents, including exposure to:

<ul><li>Urine</li><li>Droppings</li><li>Saliva</li><li>Less commonly, scratches or bites from infected rodents</li></ul>

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The recent hantavirus outbreak aboard the luxury ship MV Hondius, which drew global attention and raised concerns about the potential for wider spread, has highlighted the need for better therapeutics and vaccines.The outbreak claimed three lives and infected 13 people. While those affected recovered from the infection, they had contracted the Andes strain, which carries a risk of human-to-human transmission. There is currently no specific antiviral drug or vaccine for the Andes virus.Now, researchers writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases have reported early promising results for tocilizumab as a treatment for severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).The researchers said tocilizumab warrants further evaluation as a treatment for severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.What Did The Study Find?Also read: Can Hantavirus Spread Through Semen And Breast Milk? What Experts Say The study is based on a case series involving 10 hantavirus patients treated at Hospital Zonal de Bariloche, Argentina, between June 1, 2024, and May 6, 2026.Tocilizumab is an immunosuppressive medication used to treat severe inflammatory conditions, including severe COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.Researchers from San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, said that under an ethical framework allowing the emergency use of unproven medications outside clinical trials when no satisfactory alternatives exist, tocilizumab was administered to five eligible patients with laboratory-confirmed severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.Five other patients received standard supportive care without Tocilizumab because they were too sick or the medication was unavailable when treatment was being considered. The case series represents the first descriptive report from a larger ongoing study.   Four of the five patients treated with Tocilizumab survived and were discharged from intensive care, whereas all five patients who did not receive Tocilizumab died shortly after admission to intensive care.There is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for the Andes strain, underscoring the importance of further research into potential therapies such as tocilizumab.However, the authors said, "the findings should not be interpreted as evidence for the implementation of routine use of Tocilizumab to treat severe hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, but they do support the need for urgent further research".What Is Hantavirus?According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.Globally, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 hantavirus infections occur each year. The majority of cases are reported in Asia, particularly China. Most infections are sporadic or occur in small clusters linked to contact with infected rodents.In humans, hantavirus infection can cause severe illness and death, although disease severity varies depending on the virus strain and geographical region.Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a severe viral disease caused by the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus endemic in several regions of the Americas, including Argentina and Chile. In recent years, parts of Argentina have seen an increase in hantavirus cases.The severe respiratory illness can rapidly become fatal. Reported fatality rates range from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, depending on the outbreak setting, quality of medical care, and surveillance capacity.How Does Hantavirus Spread?Hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with infected rodents, including exposure to:UrineDroppingsSalivaLess commonly, scratches or bites from infected rodents

immunotherapy shows early promise against severe hantavirus lung disease: study

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