When rare zoonoses travel: Andes virus, hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, and the preparedness gap
- 1Institute of Tropical Medicine, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, Hanoi, Vietnam; Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam. Electronic address: [email protected]
- 2Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Abstract
The perspective discusses how the suspected Andes virus (ANDV) associated hantavirus cluster on the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius illustrates a critical preparedness gap in managing rare zoonotic infections in mobile, closed, and medically constrained settings. Focusing on the reported multi-country cluster involving severe hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, deaths, and international passenger dispersal, it highlights the associated diagnostic, clinical, and epidemiological challenges. The perspective also explains why ANDV is distinct among hantaviruses, including its documented potential for limited person-to-person transmission during close and prolonged contact, with insights into the virology and pathogenesis of ANDV. Additionally, it highlights ecological exposure hazards in Patagonia, rodent reservoirs, clinical progression, the necessity for laboratory confirmation, candidate severity biomarkers such as IL-6 and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein, and the lack of specific antiviral therapy. Furthermore, it discusses risk factors, including European ethnicity and host genetic susceptibility linked to αVβ3 integrin variation. Overall, this perspective argues that expedition travel, maritime medicine, One Health surveillance and outbreak preparedness must be better integrated in order to detect, investigate and manage rare but high-consequence zoonotic infections before they escalate into international public health events.
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BibTeX
@article{velavan2026when,
title = {{When rare zoonoses travel: Andes virus, hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, and the preparedness gap}},
author = {Thirumalaisamy Palanichamy Velavan and Jonas Schmidt‐Chanasit},
journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108778},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108778},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - When rare zoonoses travel: Andes virus, hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, and the preparedness gap
AU - Thirumalaisamy Palanichamy Velavan
AU - Jonas Schmidt‐Chanasit
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/12
JO - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108778
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108778
AB - The perspective discusses how the suspected Andes virus (ANDV) associated hantavirus cluster on the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius illustrates a critical preparedness gap in managing rare zoonotic infections in mobile, closed, and medically constrained settings. Focusing on the reported multi-country cluster involving severe hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, deaths, and international passenger dispersal, it highlights the associated diagnostic, clinical, and epidemiological challenges. The perspective also explains why ANDV is distinct among hantaviruses, including its documented potential for limited person-to-person transmission during close and prolonged contact, with insights into the virology and pathogenesis of ANDV. Additionally, it highlights ecological exposure hazards in Patagonia, rodent reservoirs, clinical progression, the necessity for laboratory confirmation, candidate severity biomarkers such as IL-6 and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein, and the lack of specific antiviral therapy. Furthermore, it discusses risk factors, including European ethnicity and host genetic susceptibility linked to αVβ3 integrin variation. Overall, this perspective argues that expedition travel, maritime medicine, One Health surveillance and outbreak preparedness must be better integrated in order to detect, investigate and manage rare but high-consequence zoonotic infections before they escalate into international public health events.
SN - 1201-9712
SN - 1878-3511
ER -