Hantavirus Pandemic 'Extremely Unlikely' Due to Limited Human-to-Human Transmission

An epidemiologist states that hantavirus is highly unlikely to cause a pandemic as it is rarely transmitted human-to-human, despite some severe forms.

Fri May 08 2026

Hantavirus Unlikely to Transmit Human-to-Human

Dr. Chantal Rovers, an epidemiologist, emphasized that individuals who develop symptoms and have had no contact with confirmed or suspected hantavirus cases face no risk of infection. She stated that public health officials typically instruct those with symptoms to contact their local public health institute or a doctor. The risk of hantavirus infection for people not in close contact with rats (the primary carriers) is minimal, especially outside regions like South America where certain rat species transmit the virus.

Diagnosis and Pandemic Assessment

Dr. Rovers explained that hantavirus can be diagnosed using a PCR test on blood or saliva samples. While the test itself takes only a few hours, not all laboratories can perform this specific test, meaning samples may need to be transported, potentially delaying results. She highlighted that hantaviruses are generally not transmitted from human to human, with the exception of the Andes virus, which can cause severe illness with a mortality rate of 30-50%. However, she concluded that it is "extremely unlikely" for hantavirus to become a pandemic situation, contrasting its transmission patterns with those of viruses seen in Europe.

*Source: YouTube: Associated Press (2026-05-08)*

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