US CDC: Hantavirus is Very Difficult to Transmit from Person to Person

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/CDC

JAKARTA - The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the Andes virus is the only type of hantavirus that can be transmitted from human to human, but the transmission process is very difficult to occur.

Director of the Global Migration Health Division of the CDC, David Fitter, said hantavirus is not a new pathogen and is very difficult to spread. According to him, the hantavirus spread on the cruise ship is a different type from the one in the United States.

"And this hantavirus, namely the Andes virus, is the only one that can be transmitted between humans, but again, its transmission is very difficult through close contact with body fluids, respiration, sharing intimate personal items, such as toothbrushes, and so on. So, this is very different from respiratory viruses," explained Fitter.

Previously, the United States Department of Health and Human Services said that one in 17 Americans evacuated from the cruise ship where the outbreak occurred showed mild symptoms of exposure to the coronavirus; while another was confirmed to be infected with the Andes variant of the virus.

NBC later reported that the plane carrying Americans after being evacuated from the ship landed in Nebraska. The University of Nebraska Medical Center said one person tested positive for the virus, but did not show symptoms.

A deadly hantavirus outbreak was reported on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius while sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed seven cases of infection, three of which were fatal. Sunday (10/5), the MV Hondius arrived off the coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Hantavirus is a group of viruses that are transmitted to humans through contact with rodents. The virus can cause dengue fever with hantavirus renal syndrome and pulmonary syndrome.