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Rachel V Thomas

WHO Says 6-Week Hantavirus Incubation Raises Concern, But No Epidemic Risk

WHO Says 6-Week Hantavirus Incubation Raises Concern, but No Epidemic Risk

The six-week-long incubation period of Hantavirus is a matter of concern, but the rat-borne disease is certainly not a large epidemic, said the World Health Organization today.

At a media briefing, the WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed concerns about the time taken for the symptoms of the disease to appear.

He noted that so far the disease has been limited to the 150 people who traveled on board the MV Hondius ship. Of these, only 8 people have been infected - 3 have died, and 5 have been confirmed.

A case has been reported in a person who disembarked from the ship, without having the symptoms, and some have self-isolated to prevent the risk of spreading.

Among those on board the ship, now travelling to the Canary Islands, "currently no one is symptomatic".

However, "with a six-week incubation period, more cases are expected to be reported".

Countries involved in the contact tracing efforts of people who disembarked at St. Helena Islands include Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, the UK, and the US, the WHO chief said.

WHO infectious disease epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove reiterated that the disease spreads only among close, prolonged contacts or those providing care, as seen in the case of the doctor who got infected on board.

The WHO also noted that the disease is unlikely to become a large epidemic, as it's an isolated case occurring in a closed environment. However, public health measures like contact tracing and testing are key to preventing any further spread.

According to the WHO, the outbreak of the rat-borne disease among people aboard the MV Hondius ship after it left Argentina on April 1 was caused by the Andes strain.

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Gautam Menon, Epidemiologist and Professor of Physics and Biology, Ashoka University, Delhi-NCR, said that the long incubation period is likely to complicate the spread of the hantavirus.

"What complicates matters is that incubation periods - the time between getting infected and symptoms showing - are large, up to several weeks, so passengers and their contacts will have to be quarantined for a long period before they can be declared safe." The expert said.

<h2>Is Hantavirus Similar To COVID-19?</h2>

Ven Kerkhove said that hantavirus causes severe respiratory issues, but it is still not the same as SARS-CoV-2. 

This is not a new virus and is completely different from SARS-COV-2. It has caused similar outbreaks in Argentina in 2018, where contact tracing and other public health measures contained the spread.

"The outbreak of Hantavirus on a cruise ship has generated significant anxiety around the world, evoking memories of cruise ships affected by COVID-19 in the first phase of the pandemic. However, this is a different virus that is not known to spread efficiently from person to person. Its characteristics are already well-documented, unlike the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which was an unknown organism until then," Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, told HealthandMe.

"The current cases do not indicate a pandemic threat, but they underline the growing importance of surveillance of zoonotic diseases. Strengthening rodent control, environmental hygiene, and early detection systems remains essential to prevent localized outbreaks and public panic. There is neither a proven treatment for its cure nor is there any vaccine," added Dr.Ishwar Gilada, Mumbai-based infectious disease expert. 

<h2>How does The Hantavirus Affect The Human Body?</h2>

Hantavirus infection is caused by the hantavirus, which belongs to the Hantaviridae family. It is is rare but can be life-threatening. 

The infection presents with initial symptoms resembling the flu and has a relatively high mortality of about 40%.

Even though this virus is not believed to spread very efficiently, it would have done so far more easily in the enclosed environment that the ship provided, the experts said.

Dr Neha Rastogi, Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, told HealthandMe that it can be contracted by coming into contact with rodent saliva, urine, and feces.

Hantavirus can cause infection - 2 syndromes: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and haemorrhagic fever that may quickly develop into severe respiratory illness, as flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle aches, and fatigue) occur before developing serious respiratory symptoms (dyspnea) that may require respiratory assistance.

"On rare occasions, it can also spread from person to person through close contact. Rapid diagnosis and intensive medical treatment are critical for a successful outcome," Dr Rastogi said. 

"Preventative measures include proper personal hygiene, avoiding contact with rodents or rodent-inhabited areas; using PPE when cleaning; and ensuring the area is well-ventilated," she added.

Although hantavirus infections can cause severe respiratory illness with high mortality, confirmed human cases globally remain relatively uncommon, Dr Gilada told HealthandMe

"The pneumonia syndrome caused by the virus is due to excessive permeability of blood vessels, resulting in fluid accumulation. It is managed with expert supportive care while the lungs recover, as there are currently no known antivirals or vaccines available for the Andes virus. By carefully tracking contacts and isolating those who might be infected, the virus can be stopped in its tracks, bringing this outbreak under control," Dr Jaydevan said.

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Hantavirus

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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

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The six-week-long incubation period of Hantavirus is a matter of concern, but the rat-borne disease is certainly not a large epidemic, said the World Health Organization today.At a media briefing, the WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed concerns about the time taken for the symptoms of the disease to appear. He noted that so far the disease has been limited to the 150 people who traveled on board the MV Hondius ship. Of these, only 8 people have been infected - 3 have died, and 5 have been confirmed.A case has been reported in a person who disembarked from the ship, without having the symptoms, and some have self-isolated to prevent the risk of spreading.Among those on board the ship, now travelling to the Canary Islands, "currently no one is symptomatic".However, "with a six-week incubation period, more cases are expected to be reported".Countries involved in the contact tracing efforts of people who disembarked at St. Helena Islands include Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, the UK, and the US, the WHO chief said.WHO infectious disease epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove reiterated that the disease spreads only among close, prolonged contacts or those providing care, as seen in the case of the doctor who got infected on board.The WHO also noted that the disease is unlikely to become a large epidemic, as it's an isolated case occurring in a closed environment. However, public health measures like contact tracing and testing are key to preventing any further spread.According to the WHO, the outbreak of the rat-borne disease among people aboard the MV Hondius ship after it left Argentina on April 1 was caused by the Andes strain.Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Gautam Menon, Epidemiologist and Professor of Physics and Biology, Ashoka University, Delhi-NCR, said that the long incubation period is likely to complicate the spread of the hantavirus."What complicates matters is that incubation periods - the time between getting infected and symptoms showing - are large, up to several weeks, so passengers and their contacts will have to be quarantined for a long period before they can be declared safe." The expert said.Is Hantavirus Similar To COVID-19?Ven Kerkhove said that hantavirus causes severe respiratory issues, but it is still not the same as SARS-CoV-2. This is not a new virus and is completely different from SARS-COV-2. It has caused similar outbreaks in Argentina in 2018, where contact tracing and other public health measures contained the spread."The outbreak of Hantavirus on a cruise ship has generated significant anxiety around the world, evoking memories of cruise ships affected by COVID-19 in the first phase of the pandemic. However, this is a different virus that is not known to spread efficiently from person to person. Its characteristics are already well-documented, unlike the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which was an unknown organism until then," Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, told HealthandMe."The current cases do not indicate a pandemic threat, but they underline the growing importance of surveillance of zoonotic diseases. Strengthening rodent control, environmental hygiene, and early detection systems remains essential to prevent localized outbreaks and public panic. There is neither a proven treatment for its cure nor is there any vaccine," added Dr.Ishwar Gilada, Mumbai-based infectious disease expert. How does The Hantavirus Affect The Human Body?Hantavirus infection is caused by the hantavirus, which belongs to the Hantaviridae family. It is is rare but can be life-threatening. The infection presents with initial symptoms resembling the flu and has a relatively high mortality of about 40%.Even though this virus is not believed to spread very efficiently, it would have done so far more easily in the enclosed environment that the ship provided, the experts said.Dr Neha Rastogi, Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, told HealthandMe that it can be contracted by coming into contact with rodent saliva, urine, and feces. Hantavirus can cause infection - 2 syndromes: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and haemorrhagic fever that may quickly develop into severe respiratory illness, as flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle aches, and fatigue) occur before developing serious respiratory symptoms (dyspnea) that may require respiratory assistance."On rare occasions, it can also spread from person to person through close contact. Rapid diagnosis and intensive medical treatment are critical for a successful outcome," Dr Rastogi said. "Preventative measures include proper personal hygiene, avoiding contact with rodents or rodent-inhabited areas; using PPE when cleaning; and ensuring the area is well-ventilated," she added.Although hantavirus infections can cause severe respiratory illness with high mortality, confirmed human cases globally remain relatively uncommon, Dr Gilada told HealthandMe"The pneumonia syndrome caused by the virus is due to excessive permeability of blood vessels, resulting in fluid accumulation. It is managed with expert supportive care while the lungs recover, as there are currently no known antivirals or vaccines available for the Andes virus. By carefully tracking contacts and isolating those who might be infected, the virus can be stopped in its tracks, bringing this outbreak under control," Dr Jaydevan said.