The Iss's indications

Hantavirus: symptoms, contagion, treatment and how to protect yourself

They rarely affect humans, but can cause serious complications and often death. Virus transmission occurs mainly through contact with infected rodents

by Pietro Menzani

8 May 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

After an outbreak of the Andes hantavirus on board the cruise ship Mv Hondius, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reassured the population: the virus is not easily transmitted and the risk of contagion is very low. Despite the fact that the infection caused the death of three passengers on the ship - a Dutch tourist couple who had embarked in Ushuaia, Argentina, and a German woman - and the contagion of seven people, the World Health Organisation has specified that a pandemic is not expected. In Italia, there are currently no reports of human cases in the country, but the Istituto Superiore di Sanità has published some indications to raise awareness and prevent the spread of the virus.

What are hantaviruses

The Iss explains that hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses and only rarely affect humans: infections are in fact relatively rare globally. However, the situation calls for great caution as the disease - which varies depending on the type of virus and geographical area - can lead to serious complications and often death in humans. Moreover, there is currently no specific treatment to cure the disease, nor a vaccine to prevent contagion.

Among the orthohantavirus species causing disease in humans are the Andes (Andv) and Sin Nombre (Snv) viruses in the Americas and the Puumala and Dobrava viruses in Europe. While in the Americas the virus mainly attacks the lungs and heart, causing hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (Hcps), in Asia and Europe it is known to affect kidneys and blood vessels, triggering haemorrhagic fever with kidney syndrome (Hfrs).

In the European region, data on the spread of hantaviruses are reassuring: 1,885 hantavirus infections (0.4 per 100,000) were detected in 2023, the lowest rate recorded between 2019 and 2023. In East Asia, Hfrs affects thousands of people every year, although infections have been declining in recent decades. In the Americas, by contrast, eight countries reported 229 cases and 59 deaths last year, with a lethality rate of 25.7%.

How is the virus contracted?

Hantavirus infection in humans is not very common. Infection can occur through contact with faeces, urine, saliva of infected rodents or contaminated surfaces. For this very reason, the chances of contracting the virus increase in rural environments, such as forests, fields and farms.

The Iss reports that contraction of the virus is most frequent during activities such as cleaning rodent-infested buildings. Inter-human transmission is not frequent, but limited inter-human transmission of hypersensitivity pulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been reported in community settings involving close and prolonged contact. At present, only the Andes virus, which is particularly prevalent in Chile and Argentina, has been transmitted human-to-human.

Symptoms and precautions to take

Headache, dizziness, chills, fever, myalgia and gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, followed by sudden respiratory distress and hypotension are the recurring symptoms of human hantavirus syndrome (HPS) and usually occur 2 to 4 weeks after initial exposure to the virus. Signs of infection may, however, appear as early as one week and up to eight weeks after exposure.

According to guidance provided by the Iss, in order to reduce the risk of contracting the virus, it is crucial to limit contact between people and rodents as much as possible. Recommended precautions include cleaning the home and workplace, reducing the presence of food sources and shelters for mice.

It is also essential to wash hands thoroughly after any risky activity or contact with potentially contaminated materials. Finally, it is necessary to store food and waste in closed, protected containers and to seal access points for rodents in buildings.

The therapies and the possible vaccine

Iss emphasises that there is no specific licensed antiviral treatment or vaccine against the infection, therapy is supportive and focuses on close clinical monitoring and management of respiratory, cardiac and renal complications. Early access to intensive care, when clinically indicated, improves outcomes, particularly for patients with cardiopulmonary syndrome.

The journal Nature reports how the search for a vaccine against hantaviruses began at least 30 years ago, and since then candidate vaccines have also been identified against the Andes strain responsible for the cases on board the cruise ship Mv Hondius. For one of them there has been a phase 1 clinical trial, i.e. a test conducted on a small number of people to verify the safety