90-Second Read: The Hantavirus outbreak is the warning the world needs to improve pandemic preparedness

While the Hantavirus outbreak will likely be eliminated, it highlights persistent gaps in global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response measures. The latest case of a Canadian passenger testing positive shows the Hantavirus outbreak isn't over yet. The World Health Organization's ( WHO ) rapid international response and the Hantavirus' transmission dynamics are important factors in preventing the outbreak from becoming a global pandemic. More than 120 passengers from the stricken cruise ship MV Hondius are now being monitored in their home regions, including five Australians and a New Zealander who will remain in quarantine for three weeks in a facility near Perth.

A 2018 Andes Hantavirus outbreak was seeded by a symptomatic person attending a party with around 100 guests, five of whom became infected. Previous Hantavirus outbreaks have been eliminated through these simple public health measures. We have hopefully "dodged a bullet" with this Hantavirus outbreak but may not be so fortunate next time unless we increase political and economic investment in shared global health security. The parallels with the start of the COVID pandemic are obvious.

The Andes Hantavirus shares a number of frightening features that have understandably raised fears across the globe. Its ability for animal-to-human (zoonotic) transmission from its natural rodent reservoir to unsuspecting tourists makes the Hantavirus an unpredictable threat. The animal-human spillover capability has been observed with multiple Hantavirus species that occasionally infect people across the Americas, Europe and Asia. For a significant outbreak of a virus like this, it needs to get lucky.

The recent withdrawal of the United States and Argentina from the WHO and funding cuts by other members present a significant barrier, leaving the world less prepared for the next spillover event. The next pandemic could start quickly if the world isn't prepared. Transmission is also concentrated around the time a person develops symptoms, which rapidly get worse and effectively reduce further contacts and opportunities for spread.