WHO finally issue statement on likelihood of hantavirus becoming the “next covid”

WHO Says the Public Risk “Remains Low”

During a recent media briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the growing anxiety directly, reassuring the public that the outbreak does not resemble the early spread of COVID-19. WHO officials emphasized that the current hantavirus situation is a contained outbreak associated primarily with one cruise ship and not evidence of uncontrolled global transmission.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness, was even more direct when speaking to reporters. She stated:

“This is not COVID. This is not influenza.”

She explained that hantavirus spreads very differently from respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

WHO officials repeatedly stressed that the overall risk to the general public remains low despite the seriousness of the illness in infected patients.

What Exactly Is Hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses primarily carried by rodents. Humans usually become infected after inhaling particles contaminated by rodent urine, saliva, or droppings. Unlike COVID-19, which spreads efficiently through casual human interaction, hantavirus infections are typically linked to environmental exposure.

There are different forms of the disease depending on the region:

• In North and South America, hantavirus can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory illness.
• In Europe and Asia, certain strains can lead to Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), which primarily affects the kidneys.

The outbreak currently attracting global attention involves the Andes strain, a rare variant known for limited person-to-person transmission. This strain is usually found in parts of South America, particularly Argentina and Chile.