Understanding the Andes Virus: Why It’s Not the Next Pandemic Threat Like Covid-19

The recent news of a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has reignited fears reminiscent of the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ruby Princess, a cruise ship that docked in Sydney in March 2020, became notorious for being a hotspot of Covid-19 transmission, leading to widespread community infections. Now, with passengers on the MV Hondius being quarantined due to potential exposure to the Andes virus—a type of hantavirus—many are understandably concerned.

However, health experts, including those from the World Health Organization, assure that the Andes virus does not possess the same pandemic potential as Covid-19. While the Andes virus is indeed serious and warrants a cautious response from health authorities, its transmission dynamics differ significantly from SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the global pandemic.

As of May 11, reports from European health authorities indicated nine total cases related to the cruise ship, with seven confirmed and two suspected infections. Tragically, three fatalities have been linked to this outbreak. In Australia, five citizens along with a New Zealander are set to be repatriated and placed under quarantine for monitoring, initially at the Centre for National Resilience located near RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia.

Hantaviruses, including the Andes strain, are primarily carried by rodents such as mice and rats. Human infection typically occurs through inhalation of aerosolized particles contaminated with the virus from the droppings or urine of infected rodents. This mode of transmission is distinctly different from Covid-19, which spreads through respiratory droplets and aerosols emitted during breathing, coughing, or sneezing.

Experts highlight that while hantaviruses can cause serious illness, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), the likelihood of rapid human-to-human transmission, as seen with Covid-19, is lower. The Andes virus has not demonstrated sustained human-to-human spread, making it unlikely to trigger a pandemic of similar scale to Covid-19. As health authorities respond with vigilance, it is essential for the public to remain informed and not jump to conclusions based on past experiences with other viruses.

Source: scroll.in