90-Second Read: Hantavirus can survive in semen 6 years after infection: Study

A 2023 study suggesting the Hantavirus can live for years in semen and could be transmitted sexually is getting attention following the deadly outbreak on the MV Hondius. Three passengers on the Dutch‑flagged cruise ship died after contracting the Andes strain of Hantavirus, and several others were infected. In that study, Swiss researchers analyzed a 55‑year‑old man who had survived severe complications from Andes Hantavirus nearly six years earlier.

A small number of Americans who disembarked have either tested positive or are being monitored in the United States. Global health officials say the Andes strain, the only known form of Hantavirus capable of person‑to‑person transmission, is not expected to trigger a pandemic. The recent cases have prompted renewed focus on a peer‑reviewed study, "Presence and Persistence of Andes Virus RNA in Human Semen," published in 2023 in the journal Viruses.

Based on those findings, the researchers concluded that sexual transmission of the virus could be possible for up to 71 months after the initial infection, though they noted more research is needed to better understand the risk. Viruses such as Ebola and Zika have also been shown to remain in semen and, in some cases, be transmitted sexually. However, the virus has a mortality rate estimated at up to 40%.