Andes virus linked to cruise ship deaths raises concern over human-to-human spread

As wellness officials way nan hantavirus outbreak that began connected nan MV Hondius cruise ship, attraction is turning to nan Andes virus, a uncommon strain from South America that is causing concern.

The microorganism stemming from nan cruise ship, which has caused astir 8 cases and 3 deaths arsenic of May 11, was identified by nan World Health Organization arsenic nan Andes strain.

Unlike astir forms of hantavirus, which dispersed from rodents to humans, Andes is nan only strain that is capable to transmit from personification to person, heightening fears astir really outbreaks could unfold nether nan correct conditions.

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"The Andes strain has been expanding precocious arsenic rodents migrate northbound toward Buenos Aires successful hot, bedewed ambiance conditions," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News elder aesculapian analyst, told Fox News Digital. "It is predominately a rodent microorganism – existent sequencing shows nary mutations truthful far."

As wellness officials way nan hantavirus outbreak that began connected nan MV Hondius cruise ship, attraction is turning to nan Andes virus, a uncommon strain from South America that is causing concern. (iStock)

The microorganism is endemic chiefly successful Argentina, Chile and parts of confederate South America, according to nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is chiefly carried by a chaotic rodent type known arsenic nan long-tailed pygmy atom rat.

The Andes strain tends to origin much superior complications, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), according to Siegel.

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HPS is simply a uncommon but terrible respiratory illness that chiefly affects nan lungs, causing fluid buildup that makes it difficult to breathe. It tin quickly go life-threatening, pinch 38% of group who create respiratory symptoms dying from nan disease, according to nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Passengers disembark from nan hantavirus-stricken cruise vessel MV Hondius astatine nan larboard of Granadilla successful Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, connected May 10, 2026. (Manu Fernandez/AP)

Early symptoms of HPS tin see fatigue, fever and musculus aches, pinch astir half of each patients besides experiencing headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems, for illustration nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, per nan CDC.

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Symptoms typically look betwixt 4 and 42 days aft exposure. In astir cases, only group pinch symptoms are capable to dispersed nan microorganism to others.

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While nan Andes microorganism does person nan capacity to dispersed personification to person, Siegel noted that studies show it is still rare.

"There is presently nary curen aliases vaccine," nan expert noted. "The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases is moving connected monoclonal antibodies, and an MRNA vaccine is successful nan works."

HPS is simply a uncommon but terrible respiratory illness that chiefly affects nan lungs, causing fluid buildup that makes it difficult to breathe. (iStock)

Patients pinch nan microorganism typically person supportive care, including rest, hydration and medications to negociate symptoms.

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Health experts person shared that nan Andes microorganism appears to dispersed overmuch little efficiently than much contagious viruses for illustration measles, influenza and COVID.

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The CDC has stated that wide risk to nan American public and travelers remains "extremely low."

"Andes microorganism testing is constricted to group who person applicable symptoms and vulnerability history," nan agency wrote. "If you deliberation you had interaction pinch a personification pinch Andes microorganism and are experiencing symptoms, interaction a aesculapian master aliases your authorities aliases section wellness section immediately."