90-Second Read: What is Hantavirus?

On a cruise ship sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde, three passengers, a Dutch couple and a German woman, have died following a suspected Hantavirus outbreak. The World Health Organization ( WHO ) estimates a total of eight Hantavirus cases, three of which have been confirmed so far. Hantaviruses have been known in Germany for many years, with between 200 and 3,000 cases typically reported annually. Three people have died on a cruise ship in the Atlantic, reportedly from Hantavirus.

Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is typically transmitted from animals to humans. The natural hosts of Hantaviruses are primarily various species of mice and rats, though the viruses have also been detected in shrews, moles and bats. Recent studies suggest Hantavirus can have lasting health consequences even after the acute infection resolves. The most common Hantavirus strain in Germany is the Puumala virus, for which the bank vole is the primary reservoir host.

The severity of illness depends on the Hantavirus strain involved. Hantavirus strains found in North and South America can trigger a pulmonary syndrome, in which fluid accumulates in the lungs, blood pressure drops, and severe respiratory distress can develop. The Seoul virus is also an occasional cause of Hantavirus infection in Germany. Treatment for Hantavirus is largely limited to managing symptoms.

An experimental therapy based on antibodies from survivors successfully neutralized several Hantavirus strains in initial trials. We updated it on May 6 with new information on the deceased and ill passengers. Infection can also occur by ingesting contaminated particles or by touching the eyes or nose after contact with contaminated material.