The hantavirus has burst back into the news after the outbreak that has caused two deaths and several infected people on a cruise ship - the Hondius - that was heading to Cape Verde and has been redirected towards the Canary Islands. This event has reactivated doubts about its danger. However, health authorities and scientific evidence agree on one message: it is not a virus with high transmission in daily life.
Unlike other respiratory pathogens, hantavirus does not circulate widely among people nor does it generate large community outbreaks.
Its transmission is linked almost exclusively to contact with infected rodents or with environments contaminated by these animals.
What it is and how it is transmitted
Hantavirus is a group of viruses that is transmitted to humans mainly through the inhalation of contaminated particles from the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. Contagion can also occur through direct contact with these animals or, in less frequent cases, through bites.
This transmission pattern explains why its incidence is associated with rural environments, closed warehouses, barns, or abandoned dwellings, and not with habitual urban life. Furthermore, contagion between people is exceptional and is limited to very specific variants, not generally present in Europe.
Symptoms and severity: two main syndromes
The infection can lead to different clinical pictures depending on the geographic region:
- In Europe, Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome predominates, which usually presents a milder course.
- In America, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome may appear, a more severe form that affects the respiratory system.
Initial symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, or abdominal discomfort. In more severe cases, respiratory distress may appear, requiring urgent medical attention.
Why the risk for the general population is low
Health authorities insist that the risk of infection in the general population is very low. It is not an airborne transmission virus between humans like the flu or coronavirus, nor is it present in usual public spaces.
The danger is concentrated in very specific situations:
- Cleaning of enclosed spaces with the presence of unprotected rodents
- Activities in rural or forest environments with infestation
- Handling of contaminated materials without safety measures
Outside of these scenarios, the probability of contagion is minimal.
Even so, the World Health Organization is closely monitoring the outbreak that emerged on the Hondius ship, coordinating the operation to transfer those affected, as well as the disembarkation of its passengers.
Prevention Measures: Key in High-Risk Environments
Prevention involves avoiding exposure in potentially contaminated areas. Among the usual recommendations are:
- Ventilate closed spaces before cleaning them
- Use gloves and a mask for risky tasks
- Avoid dry sweeping to prevent raising contaminated particles
- Maintain rodent control in homes and warehouses
The case of the ship and the health response
As we have pointed out, the Hondius ship episode is being managed under international protocols, with evacuation of those affected and monitoring by health authorities. The Spanish Ministry of Health - the Canary Islands could be the ship's destination port - has stressed that any decision regarding its destination will be made based on safety criteria.
In parallel, the Canary authorities have shown caution regarding a possible docking of the ship in their territory, although experts recall that these types of situations are highly controlled and do not imply risk to the population if the established protocols are applied.
An alert without an alarm
The combination of specific transmission, low incidence, and strict health protocols allows us to rule out, for the moment, a scenario of generalized risk as a consequence of hantavirus.
In this context, the recommendation is clear: rigorous information and prevention in risk environments, without transferring alarm to daily life.