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

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

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

Unlike astir forms of hantavirus, which dispersed from rodents to humans, Andes is the lone strain that is capable to transmit from idiosyncratic to person, heightening fears astir however outbreaks could unfold nether the close conditions.

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"The Andes strain has been expanding precocious arsenic rodents migrate northbound toward Buenos Aires successful hot, bedewed clime 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 the hantavirus outbreak that began connected the MV Hondius cruise ship, attraction is turning to the 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 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is chiefly carried by a chaotic rodent taxon known arsenic the 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 the lungs, causing fluid buildup that makes it hard to breathe. It tin rapidly go life-threatening, with 38% of radical who make respiratory symptoms dying from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Passengers disembark from the hantavirus-stricken cruise vessel MV Hondius astatine the 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, with astir fractional of each patients besides experiencing headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems, similar nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, per the CDC.

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Symptoms typically look betwixt 4 and 42 days aft exposure. In astir cases, lone radical with symptoms are capable to dispersed the microorganism to others.

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While the Andes microorganism does person the capableness to dispersed idiosyncratic to person, Siegel noted that studies amusement it is inactive rare.

"There is presently nary attraction oregon vaccine," the doc noted. "The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases is moving connected monoclonal antibodies, and an MRNA vaccine is successful the works."

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

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

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

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The CDC has stated that wide hazard to the American nationalist and travelers remains "extremely low."

"Andes microorganism investigating is constricted to radical who person applicable symptoms and vulnerability history," the bureau wrote. "If you deliberation you had interaction with a idiosyncratic with Andes microorganism and are experiencing symptoms, interaction a aesculapian nonrecreational oregon your authorities oregon section wellness section immediately."