90-Second Read: Yes, Hantavirus Can Live in Sperm for Years—But There's A Catch

Research suggests that Hantavirus can live in sperm for 6 years. Doctors say it Doctors say Hantavirus can be found in sperm for 6 years, but there's more to know than that. AS OF RIGHT now, there have been no confirmed cases of Hantavirus from this outbreak outside of some passengers who were on the MV Hondius.

At the time of reporting, 11 passengers on the MV Hondius have been diagnosed with a form of Hantavirus known as Andes virus and three are dead. While multiple health organizations have asserted this is not a COVID pandemic level threat, Hantavirus is freaky for other reasons. In the study, researchers found traces of Hantavirus in human sperm for up to six years.

So Hantavirus is one of many viruses that can live in your sperm. Even if you or a partner were infected with Hantavirus, there is no strong data to suggest it would become a sexually transmitted disease, just a single case report that detected some Hantavirus RNA from one guy. In your personal Hantavirus research, you might have heard about a 2023 study published in the journal Viruses.