Byline: Roseina Coutinho
The outbreak of hantavirus on a luxury cruise ship (MV Hondius) in Cape Verde has set alarm bells ringing across the world. So far, three people have died, and at least eight people who were aboard the ship are suspected of having contracted the hantavirus. The presence of two Indian crew members onboard, although both are healthy and asymptomatic, has further intensified public anxiety. A lot of misinformation regarding “hantavirus” has suddenly entered the public domain through social media and unwarranted WhatsApp forwards. This has led to fear among the masses.
When Fear Goes Viral
As news of the hantavirus outbreak surfaced, social media quickly slipped into “pandemic mode.” From alarming forecasts to exaggerated comparisons with COVID-19, misinformation has fuelled fear and confusion among people still carrying memories of lockdowns and global outbreaks. Priya Parulekar, a Clinical Psychologist from Mumbai, says, “Repetition of phrases like deadly virus, cases rising, or mysterious outbreak can create what is known as ‘Availability Heuristic’ where people judge risk based on how examples are set in one’s mind.”
Constant exposure to alarming headlines and nonstop updates also keeps people mentally on edge, making them remain in a continuous state of worry and “threat monitoring.”
Hantavirus Explained
The WHO has stated that the overall global risk remains low. Yet it has told countries to prepare for possible hantavirus cases and spread awareness. “Hantavirus are a group of viruses carried by rodents,” says Dr P. Vishnu Rao, Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospital from Hyderabad.
Dr Vishnu explains that humans can get infected by inhaling dust contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents. Although most hantaviruses do not spread from person to person, the Andes hantavirus — linked to the cruise ship outbreak — is a rare exception. Unlike COVID-19 or influenza, its human-to-human transmission is limited and usually requires prolonged close contact with a symptomatic individual.
He says, “Even the Andes virus, which can spread from person to person, generally requires close or prolonged contact with a symptomatic patient, making the likelihood of a large-scale outbreak far lower than that seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.” Currently, there is no widely available licensed vaccine for Hantavirus.
Unlike COVID-19, Limited Risk
Despite the worry and chaos, experts maintain that there is currently no major risk of a hantavirus outbreak in India. The cases linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship are limited. Dr K Krishna Prabhakar, Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Renova Century Hospitals, Hyderabad says, “The two Indian nationals on board were reported to be healthy and without symptoms after being evacuated for monitoring.”
Hantavirus is very different from COVID-19 because it does not spread easily from person to person. In most cases, infection happens only through contact with infected rodents or contaminated surroundings. Dr K Krishna explains that, unlike COVID-19, which spreads rapidly through the air and across communities, hantavirus is usually limited to places where infected rodents are present, making the chances of widespread transmission far lower.
Dr K Krishna says India is well-equipped to tackle the situation. “India has strong surveillance systems, including the Indian Council of Medical Research network and the National Institute of Virology, to detect any suspected cases early.” Basic precautions like cleanliness, rodent control, and awareness are enough, and there is no reason for panic right now.
Be Aware, Don’t Panic
In the end, the best defence against hantavirus is not panic-buying masks or doom-scrolling through alarming posts, but simple everyday caution. Keeping spaces clean, avoiding rodent-infested corners, airing out closed rooms, and handling droppings carefully can go a long way in reducing risk.
Dr. P Vishnu adds that “the key lies in clinical suspicion and early attention to symptoms.” He advises people not to ignore warning signs such as recent travel history, possible rodent exposure, high fever, or sudden breathing difficulty, as these should prompt immediate medical consultation and testing.
With no specific cure or vaccine widely available yet, experts say awareness and prevention remain the real superheroes here. Thus, proving once again that sometimes the smallest precautions make the biggest difference!
Hantavirus Facts
• The Andes hantavirus is different from COVID-19 in terms of transmission and outbreak potential.
• COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets and aerosols, including from people with mild or asymptomatic infection, leading to rapid community transmission.
• In contrast, most hantaviruses do not spread between humans at all.
• Hantavirus symptoms can appear anywhere between 4 and 42 days after exposure.
• Symptoms can begin like a regular viral illness (fever, fatigue, severe body aches, headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain).
• In some patients, the illness can suddenly worsen, leading to cough, breathing difficulty, low oxygen levels, fluid buildup in the lungs, and even shock, making early medical attention extremely important.
Prevention Better Than Cure
• Take extra caution in rodent-infested spaces (sheds, cabins, warehouses, farms, campsites, and storage rooms) where the risk of exposure is higher.
• Hantavirus can spread through contact with contaminated surroundings, including the urine, saliva, or even droppings of infected rodents.
• Regular cleanliness and proper ventilation are important in such areas.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
