The guide recalls that hantavirus is transmitted mainly by exposure to urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents, although the Andes strain - identified in the cruise ship outbreak - can be infrequently transmitted between people in situations of close and prolonged contact.
The Community of Madrid's guide on hantavirus infection
The Community of Madrid has disseminated an informative guide on hantavirus in which it summarizes what this virus is, how it is transmitted, what symptoms it can cause, and what a person should do if they have had contact with a case or have traveled to an area with circulation of the virus.
The document arrives in a context of maximum health attention due to the outbreak detected on the cruise ship MV Hondius, where several cases and deaths linked to the Andes strain have been registered. The WHO has insisted that the risk to the general population is low and that it is not a situation comparable to covid, although it does require monitoring and specific protocols.
What are hantaviruses
According to the guide from the Community of Madrid, hantaviruses are a family of viruses transmitted by rodents. Different types exist, with different geographical distribution and variable clinical presentations.
The guide distinguishes between "Old World" hantaviruses, more linked to Europe and Asia and associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, and "New World" hantaviruses, present in America, which include the Andes virus.
This distinction is important because not all hantaviruses behave the same. The Andes strain is the one that has generated the most attention in the cruise ship outbreak because it is the only one in which human-to-human transmission has been documented under certain circumstances.
How hantavirus is transmitted
The main route of contagion is the inhalation of contaminated particles from the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. The risk appears especially when entering or cleaning enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces or those with the presence of rodents.
The exposure is more common in rural environments, forests, fields, farms, warehouses, or abandoned buildings. The guide from the Community of Madrid indicates that transmission can also occur, less frequently, through the bite of infected rodents.
The key idea is this: the usual reservoir is rodents. Rodents can carry the virus without getting sick and eliminate it into the environment, which allows a person to become infected by breathing contaminated dust.
Consult here the website about hantavirus
The Community of Madrid has also deployed a consultation website, which can be accessed from here.
Can it be transmitted between people?
The guide from the Community of Madrid specifies that sporadic cases of person-to-person transmission have been documented in the south and center of Argentina and in Chile, caused by the Andes virus, although it is not the most frequent.
This point is essential to avoid alarming or trivializing. Most hantaviruses are not transmitted between humans. The relevant exception is the Andes strain, which can be transmitted in situations of close and prolonged contact.
The WHO has also conveyed calm about the MV Hondius outbreak. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stressed that the risk to the general population is low, while health authorities maintain evaluation, isolation, and repatriation protocols for affected or exposed passengers and crew.
Hantavirus Symptoms
The guide from the Community of Madrid indicates that the illness can range from practically asymptomatic cases to severe forms. The incubation period is usually between 10 days and 6 weeks, with an approximate average of 3 weeks.
The initial symptoms may resemble those of the flu: high fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, and back pain. Visual disturbances may also appear.
In some cases, the disease can evolve into more severe conditions. European strains are more associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, while American strains can produce hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome.
What to do if you have been in contact with a case and have no symptoms
The guide from the Community of Madrid indicates that people who have been in contact with a case or have traveled to an area with a usual presence of hantavirus, even if they have no symptoms, must be evaluated by Public Health.
During working hours, Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 15:00, the reference is the telephone 91 370 08 88. In the afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays, you must call the Rapid Alert System in Public Health through 061.
From these services, the steps to follow will be indicated, depending on the type of exposure, the person's health status, and the context of the contact.
What to do if you have had contact and present symptoms
If a person has been in contact with a case or has traveled to an area with cases and presents compatible symptoms, the Community of Madrid recommends contacting Public Health so that professionals can assess the situation and decide where to take samples.
While receiving instructions, the person must avoid contact with other people and remain isolated at home, preferably in a well-ventilated room with the door closed. They should also wear a surgical mask if they have to leave the room and there are other people nearby, use their own bathroom if possible, and not share personal items such as towels, cutlery, or glasses.
The final recommendation is very clear: if difficulty breathing appears or symptoms worsen, one must immediately call 112.
Measures to prevent contagion
Prevention is based on reducing exposure to rodents and contaminated spaces. The guide from the Community of Madrid recommends avoiding contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva and minimizing exposure to dust that may contain virus particles.
On trips to rural areas where the virus is endemic, it is advisable to camp in open, sunny, and clean places; avoid doing so near piles of firewood or manure; do not use abandoned cabins; dispose of garbage in closed containers; ventilate for at least one hour before entering uninhabited premises; and wear a mask and gloves if it is necessary to access these spaces.
It is also recommended to avoid touching wild rodents, alive or dead. Cleaning areas with possible rodent presence should be done with caution and never by raising dry dust.
Is there treatment for hantavirus?
The guide from the Community of Madrid recalls that there is no approved medication or vaccine specifically to treat hantavirus infections. The approach is fundamentally symptomatic and supportive.
In severe cases, medical care focuses on controlling respiratory or renal progression, depending on the strain involved and the patient's clinical picture. Early detection and medical monitoring are important because some cases can worsen rapidly.