WHO Emphasizes Hantavirus is Not Easily Transmitted like COVID-19

Illustration of hantavirus. Image: Pexels/Daniel Dan

JAKARTA - Hantavirus is now gaining the world's attention, after it was reported to have infected the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. This virus caused 3 deaths and at least 8 people were sick on the ship, with suspected human-to-human transmission.

The transmission of the virus is currently causing global concern, to the point of associating it with the COVID-19 pandemic. In relation to this concern, the World Health Organization (WHO) has spoken out.

Quoted from AP News, WHO Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness, Maria Van Kerkhove, emphasized that hantavirus is not like COVID-19. However, the virus is serious and still needs to be watched.

"This is not the next COVID, but it is a serious infectious disease. Most people will never be exposed to this," said Maria.

Maria said that hantavirus transmission can occur if there is very close contact between an infected person and others.

"When we say 'close contact' for human-to-human transmission, what we mean is very, very close physical contact. For example, sharing a bedroom, sharing a cabin, or providing direct medical care," he explained.

"This is very different from COVID and very different from influenza," he added.

WHO also emphasized that hantavirus infections are rare globally. However, this virus infection can develop rapidly and be life-threatening.

Some symptoms of hantavirus infection are fever, chills, muscle pain, and possibly headaches to flu. Symptoms of the new hantavirus syndrome usually appear between one and eight weeks after contact with infected rats.

As the infection progresses, patients may experience shortness of breath, as the lungs fill with fluid. Other syndromes that can be caused by hantavirus are bleeding to kidney failure, which usually develops within one or two weeks after exposure.