health
May 9, 2026
Expert clarifies everything about hantavirus: contagion risks, symptoms, and protection measures
While the hantavirus outbreak detected on the MV Hondius cruise ship remains under international surveillance, experts are trying to clear up doubts about the real risk of contagion and the differences compared to covid-19.
TL;DR
- Only the Andes strain of hantavirus has confirmed human-to-human transmission, which is not highly effective and requires close contact.
- Transmission generally occurs through the air between people sharing rooms or in poorly ventilated areas for extended periods.
- The risk of contagion from the MV Hondius outbreak is considered very low as individuals being evacuated do not show symptoms.
- The incubation period for hantavirus ranges from seven to 45 days, with symptoms typically appearing between 12 and 27 days.
- Hantavirus can cause severe illness, including respiratory complications, with mortality rates up to 40% in some outbreaks.
- Unlike COVID-19, hantavirus does not have massive or widespread transmission and has been known to medicine for decades.
- Protective measures like FFP2 masks, maintaining distance, and handwashing are considered sufficient to reduce transmission risk.