What is hantavirus and how has it affected the world?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that are mainly transmitted by rodents, either through the inhalation of particles present in their faeces or urine, through direct contact with infected animals, or, more rarely, through bites. They can cause serious illnesses, such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which begin with flu-like symptoms – fever, muscle aches, headache – and which, in the most severe cases, can lead to respiratory or cardiopulmonary complications.

¿Is there any threatment against hantavirus?

Transmission between people is highly unlikely and has only been reported in situations involving very close and prolonged contact with a symptomatic case. There is no specific treatment, so prevention is the main means of protection.

The Spanish Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the case of a cruise ship arriving from Argentina, on which several passengers have fallen ill following possible exposure to the virus during an outing to an area where infected rodents are present. The Spanish public health officials are in constant contact with the WHO and the authorities in the countries concerned to share all the verified information.

This type of incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for unexpected health emergencies. In this regard, the WHO concluded the Polaris II exercise in April, a two-day simulation in which 26 countries tested their response to an outbreak of a fictitious bacterium, thereby strengthening international coordination and the use of artificial intelligence tools in emergency planning.