Source: World Bank Photo Collection via Flickr.
Highlights
- Rodent exposure and environmental changes fuel hantavirus spread.
- Andes virus can spread between people in rare cases.
- Hantavirus can rapidly cause life-threatening respiratory failure.
As a Latina pursuing a PhD in Molecular Medicine, I have spent years studying RNA viruses to better understand how our immune system fights infection.
This work has given me a deep appreciation for the impact infectious diseases can have on communities, particularly across Latin America.
A group of RNA viruses receiving growing attention are the hantaviruses. These viruses pose a serious public health threat and can cause severe disease in humans.
But what are hantaviruses and why are cases increasing?
What Are Hantaviruses?
Hantaviruses are a group of RNA viruses belonging to the Hantaviridae family that are naturally carried by rodents. Different hantavirus species are associated with different rodent hosts, such as deer mice, cotton rats, and rice rats.
Infected rodents typically do not become ill but can shed the virus in their urine, feces, and saliva for extended periods. Most infections occur when people inhale virus-containing particles from rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials.
Hantaviruses can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory disease that begins with flu-like symptoms before rapidly progressing to coughing, shortness of breath, and potentially life-threatening respiratory failure. In Chile, 848 cases of HPS were reported between 1995 and 2013, with a case-fatality rate of approximately 35%.
What Makes The Andes Virus a Public Health Threat
Source: Mickey Samuni-Blank via Wikimedia Commons.
Unlike most hantaviruses, which spread exclusively from rodents to humans, the Andes virus (ANDV) is a notable exception. Found primarily in Argentina and Chile, Andes virus is the only hantavirus known to transmit directly between people.
Human-to-human transmission is uncommon and generally requires close, prolonged contact with an infected individual, particularly around the time symptoms develop.
Although Andes virus does not spread nearly as efficiently as respiratory viruses such as influenza or COVID-19, its ability to infect both rodents and humans makes it unique among hantaviruses and a significant public health concern in South America.
Why Cases Are Rising in Latin America
Source: World Bank Photo via Flickr.
Agriculture is a cornerstone of life and economic activity across Latin America and the Caribbean, but it also brings people into close contact with environments where rodents thrive. Farms, grain storage facilities, barns, and rural homes provide food and shelter for rodent populations, increasing the risk of hantavirus exposure.
Several factors are pushing case numbers up. Deforestation and land clearing in rural parts of Latin America are disrupting rodent habitats. When their natural environment is disturbed, rodents move closer to human settlements. More contact between people and rodents means more chances for the virus to spread.
Climate shifts also play a role. Changes in rainfall and temperature affect food supply for rodents, which can cause population booms. A large rodent population living near human communities is a recipe for more infections.
Increased awareness and better disease surveillance are also capturing cases that may have gone unnoticed in the past. What looks like a rise in cases is partly a sign that reporting has improved, but the real-world risk is also growing.
Symptoms You Need to Know
Unlike many other viruses, hantavirus symptoms can take longer to appear. They can appear anywhere from 4 to 42 days after exposure. In the early stage, an infected person may feel tired, feverish, and achy. About half of all patients also deal with headaches, chills, nausea, and stomach pain.
Then things can get serious fast. The virus can lead to the HPS severe lung condition. Fluid builds up in the lungs, making it hard to breathe. For some patients, it causes cardiovascular collapse. In the Americas, roughly half of all hantavirus cases are fatal, a far higher death rate than in Asia or Europe.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Source: USDA Photo by Lance Cheung via Flickr.
Staying safe comes down to cutting off contact with rodents and their waste. Here are the most important steps:
- Seal gaps and holes in your home to keep rodents out
- Store food in rodent-proof containers
- Wear gloves and a mask when cleaning spaces where rodents may have been active
- Avoid sweeping dry areas with rodent droppings; wet them with disinfectant first
- Wash your hands often, especially after being outdoors in rural areas
If you are visiting rural parts of South America, stay away from areas with high rodent activity. Early medical care can make a life-saving difference if you develop symptoms.
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