Hantavirus on the rise: clinical, virological, immunological, and public health perspectives - PubMed
3 hours ago
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- #hantavirus-outbreak
- Hantaviruses are enveloped negative-sense RNA viruses transmitted from rodents to humans via aerosolized excreta, causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
- While most hantaviruses require rodent spillover, the Andes virus can transmit human-to-human, exemplified by a recent outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
- Human activities like climate change, deforestation, and urbanization increase human-rodent interactions and spillover risks, heightening public health concerns.
- Immunocompromised individuals, such as those with HIV, may experience prolonged viral incubation, potentially facilitating viral adaptation and enhanced transmissibility.
- There is an urgent need for global surveillance and accelerated development of vaccines and prophylactics to address hantavirus threats.