Countries race to track hantavirus

[marylander1940]

I'm surprised there has been no talk yet about this subject!

New pandemic? 

Hantavirus possibly transmitted human to human on stranded cruise ship, WHO says - CBS News

[+ glutes]

 

And it can only be spread by close and prolonged contact.  /s

[BuffaloKyle]

That is how Gene Hackman's wife died, crazy how this has popped up a couple times now:

Gene Hackman's wife dies from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome: What to know - Good Morning America

[TonyDown]

So far, news reports point to the Andes strain of the virus, which can spread person to person.

 

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/health/andes-strain-hantavirus-explained

[mike carey]

In most major events there are interesting vignettes related to them. In this case, one of the passengers on the ship was dropped home to Tristan da Cunha in mid April and subsequently developed symptoms of the disease. The response required, from the British Army and the Royal Air Force, is extraordinary.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgzv77ldpdo

[+ glutes]

And it can only be spread by close and prolonged contact.  /s

[+ glutes]

Dutch hospital workers forced to quarantine after possible hantavirus exposure due to PPE failure

They failed to follow specific, strict protocols set by the hospital to contain the hantavirus infection, and will now remain in preventive quarantine for six weeks as a result.

Remember, person to person transmission can only occur with intimate and/or prolonged contact.  /s

[+ glutes]

DIng Ding DIng!

Glutes doesn't mean to be the Town Crier, but we need to pay attention folks.

First suspected 'generation three' hantavirus case as Italian who 'sat alongside' woman on Dutch KLM flight before she died develops symptoms - amid fears virus has MUTATED

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15811271/First-suspected-generation-three-hantavirus-case-Italian-sat-alongside-woman-Dutch-KLM-flight-died-develops-symptoms-amid-fears-virus-MUTATED.html

[+ glutes]

Get ready to be tested?

https://ew.com/al-roker-asked-to-test-after-daughters-wedding-amid-hantavirus-outbreak-11973508

[Jasrb36]

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2009040
 

This study is a bit concerning considering how the WHO and CDC and other PH officials have handled this so far.  What we do know according to the 2018 NEJM study where 34 were infected and 11 died the R0 is 2.12 before isolation measures were put in place.  This in an area without high population density mad the qurantine was government enforced. Researchers also concluded the virus spread primarily via aerosols and droplets and people are most contagious for a day or 2 when symptoms first appear.  All the suggestions that this requires prolonged intimate close contact are not correct as patient 0 spread this to 5 other people within relatively short time frame at a bday party he attended for only 90 min. He spread it to others sitting at the same table and a table next to him at least 4 feet away. Another person spread it to 10 other people at a wake.

If we start seeing secondary infections from people in the flight with the Dutch woman who died it should be next week sometime.

A few positives:  

-None of the Health Care Workers became ill even those without proper ppe suggesting a relatively short period someone is contagious and that people arent as contagious in severe stages. 

-  the majority of the spread occurred by 3 people which could mean certain people are much more contagious than others.  

- The average incubation time was 23-28 days which would cause a much longer time for this to get out of control.  Again if secondary infections start showing up it will be impossible to contact trace everyone who the Dutch wan encountered at the airport.   

 

[+ glutes]

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/hantavirus-outbreak-cruise-ship/687140/?gift=Ic5LMrtL8tOu0XnuoH96Qxk9IFBeinbjLSZKHIuX32g&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

[+ glutes]

 

Hantavirus Doesn’t Spread Easily, but Officials May Be Downplaying Risks

The virus is clearly far less contagious than the coronavirus, scientists agree, but they have found cases where it spread among people without direct contact.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/health/hantavirus-spread-risk.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ilA.E6hb.r_tDv1dQWW1l&smid=url-share

[+ glutes]

I pass this link on without comment:

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/15/politics/brian-christine-vaccine-skepticism-history