The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) organized a live question-and-answer session to address growing public concern following a hantavirus pulmonary syndrome outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. The session aimed to provide clear information on the disease, including its transmission, symptoms, treatment options, and preventive measures, amid increasing international media attention and public anxiety surrounding the outbreak.
During the discussion, PAHO experts emphasized that the outbreak does not represent the beginning of a new pandemic. They explained that the current cases remain largely confined to passengers and crew members of the cruise ship and their close contacts. The organization also reassured the public that the overall risk to the general population remains low.
PAHO reminded audiences that hantavirus is not a new disease in the Americas. In December 2025, the organization had already issued an epidemiological alert after several countries in the Southern Cone reported rising case numbers. By late 2025, eight countries had reported 229 confirmed cases and 59 deaths related to hantavirus infections.
According to preliminary reports for 2026 through epidemiological week 15, countries in the region have recorded 94 cases and 13 deaths. Chile reported the highest number of deaths, while additional cases were recorded in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Panama, and Paraguay. Most infections were described as sporadic cases occurring in endemic rural regions.
Experts explained that hantaviruses are zoonotic diseases transmitted primarily through exposure to infected rodents and their excreta, including urine, feces, and saliva. The Andes virus, found mainly in Argentina and Chile, is considered unique because it has demonstrated limited person-to-person transmission under specific conditions involving prolonged close contact in enclosed and poorly ventilated spaces.
PAHO officials clarified that ordinary travelers visiting urban centers across the Americas face no unusual risk. Higher risks are associated mainly with activities such as ecotourism in remote rural areas or occupations involving environmental exposure, including farming and construction work in endemic regions where contact with rodents is more likely.
Medical experts also noted that early symptoms of hantavirus infection are often nonspecific and may include fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, and body aches. However, the development of respiratory distress is considered a serious warning sign requiring urgent medical care. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine available, and severe cases require supportive care in intensive care units.
PAHO stated that it continues to support member countries in strengthening disease surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, clinical management, infection prevention, and preparedness for hantavirus and other zoonotic diseases across the Americas.
