Why is hantavirus so deadly? It's not what you may think - Science News
Read original atsciencenews.org
Norrland, SwedenConfidence 90%6 days ago
This article explains the lethality of New World hantaviruses, their mechanism of action, and references the ongoing monitoring of individuals after the MV Hondius outbreak, alongside general information about Puumala virus in Europe.
Species mentioned
- human
- bank vole
Source articles
Every claim above is derived from publicly available reporting. Click through to read the original at the publisher.
- PrimaryWhy is hantavirus so deadly? It's not what you may think - Science News
sciencenews.org · 2026-05-26
New World hantaviruses, such as the Andes virus, cause severe respiratory illness but differ from common viruses that lead to lung failure. These hantaviruses grow slowly but are highly lethal, claiming up to half of those infected, yet survivors experience no lasting damage. Scientists have found that hantaviruses infect cells lining blood vessels throughout the body, particularly capillaries, rather than directly attacking lung cells. This understanding is informing the monitoring of over 150 individuals quarantined worldwide after the recent Andes hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius crui
Reminder
This report is an aggregated summary of public information for surveillance and awareness purposes only. It is not medical advice. For symptoms, exposure, or clinical decisions, contact a qualified clinician or your local public-health authority.