Why we shouldn't rule out airborne spread of hantavirus

"The cruise ship hantavirus outbreak reveals serious gaps in scientific knowledge about whether and how the pathogen can spread through the air between humans. To date, the outbreak that began on the MV Hondiushas sickened up to 11 people and killed three of them. It is caused by the Andes type of the hantavirusthe only form of the virus known to be transmissible between people."

"Hantaviruses are typically spread by rodents such as mice or rats. People become infected by inhaling aerosolized particles of feces or urine from these animals. So in that sense, the virus can be spread through the air. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing."

"The fact that that is believed to be the main route of transmission from animals to humans implies that you can get the disease by inhaling the virus. That's well established, says Linsey Marr, an expert on aerosol disease spread at Virginia Tech. The question, then, is if an infected human is releasing virus into the air."

"The World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said this hantavirus type is transmitted by close and prolonged contact, but it's not clear what that means. Close contact could mean touching or kissing; touching contaminated objects such as bedding or eating utensils; or breathing in large or small droplets that are emitted when a person nearby coughs, sneezes, breathes or talk"

An outbreak on a cruise ship caused up to 11 illnesses and three deaths and was linked to Andes-type hantavirus, the only known form transmissible between people. Hantaviruses are usually acquired from rodents through inhalation of aerosolized particles from rodent feces or urine. The outbreak raises uncertainty about whether and how infected humans release virus into the air and how that relates to transmission. Monitoring of exposed passengers is planned for up to 42 days, matching the incubation period. Health agencies state person-to-person spread occurs through close and prolonged contact, but the meaning of that contact is not fully defined, including whether it involves droplets from coughing, sneezing, breathing, or talking.

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