The expert spoke about the ways of spreading hantavirus

Hantavirus, an outbreak of which was recorded on board the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, is often transmitted from rodents, but there is a possibility of human infection from other people. This was stated on May 9 by Jose Badiola, director of the Center for Encephalopathy and New Infectious Diseases at the University of Zaragoza, Jaune, in an interview with Izvestia.

"These viruses do not have a single strain, they are not the same. There are differences depending, for example, on the continent. American strains are not exactly the same as Euro-Asian strains. Interestingly, the South American Andes strain has special properties: it is more pathogenic, and, most importantly, there is a possibility that an infected person may transmit it to another," the expert said.

According to him, hantavirus is usually transmitted from mice or rats. A person can become infected through the feces or saliva of a rodent if they step on or accidentally touch them. In addition, the virus can be transmitted from already infected people if they come into close contact with them.

Badiola added that if a person with hantavirus stays in an unventilated room for a long time, they begin to release viral particles into the air that can infect healthy people.

"We believe that this is exactly what happened on the ship. The first patient, this married couple, is considered the most likely source of infection. And when they were on the ship, the virus spread to other passengers and even crew members. This is a cruise on a relatively small ship. This is not a huge liner for 3-4 thousand people, as in the Mediterranean Sea. The capacity is very limited — 150-160 people. The ship itself is small, and the rooms are also small and cramped," Badiola said.

The expert noted that for the Andes strain, the incubation period ranges from three days to just over a month, in some cases up to eight weeks. The symptoms may resemble the common flu, with the virus manifesting itself in shortness of breath, fever, abdominal pain, and muscle aches.

"Interestingly, the problem is not so much the virus itself, but rather the inflammatory response and immune response that it causes when it has already entered the body. Two syndromes are described. It seems that the so-called hemorrhagic syndrome prevails in Europe. And in America, I mean North and South, cardiorespiratory syndrome prevails," he added.

According to Badiola, cardiorespiratory syndrome is a severe lesion of the lungs in which they fill with fluid. This makes it difficult to breathe and can lead to death. With the European syndrome, numerous internal hemorrhages occur, hypotension develops and a person goes into shock, which also leads to death.

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In early May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported an outbreak of hantavirus aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, en route from the Argentine port of Ushuaia to Cape Verde. At the moment, three deaths have been confirmed (a married couple from the Netherlands and a German citizen).

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on May 7 that new cases of hantavirus infection could be identified due to the situation on the liner. He noted that the incubation period is six weeks.