The Andean hantavirus, which is the only one of the group of hantaviruses to be transmitted from person to person, does not occur in Europe, including Slovakia, and at the same time, there are no rodents living in Europe that would be able to spread it further. The occurrence of Andean hantavirus has not yet been laboratory confirmed in Slovakia. In connection with the recent occurrence of diseases caused by hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic, the Office of Public Health (ÚVZ) stated this on its website.
- Andean hantavirus does not occur in Europe or Slovakia at all.
- Andean hantavirus is the only known hantavirus transmitted between humans.
- Andean hantavirus transmission requires very close, long-term indoor contact.
- Puumala virus infections predominate in Slovakia, with no proven transmission between humans.
- Hantavirus infection and three deaths were confirmed on the MV Hondius in the Atlantic.
Hantaviruses are a group of RNA viruses and are transmitted by rodents. Each hantavirus is typically associated with a particular species of rodent in which it causes long-term infection without overt disease. “People usually become infected by contact with infected rodents or their urine, feces, or saliva. Rarely, they can also be spread by a bite or scratch from a rodent. Hantaviruses can be transmitted from rodents to humans.” brought closer by ÚVZ.
The only known hantavirus for which limited human-to-human transmission has been documented is Andean hantavirus, found in South America, primarily in Argentina and Chile. “Transmission from person to person occurs through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. In addition, it can also be spread through contact with rodent excreta or through surfaces that have been contaminated with them.” completed by ÚVZ.
In relation to Andean hantavirus cases on a cruise ship, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) advised that the identification of additional cases among passengers is not unexpected given the long incubation time of Andean hantavirus. However, extensive transmission of the virus, as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic, is not expected, since transmission requires very close contact with the infected, often for a long time and in closed spaces.
On the territory of Slovakia, hygienists register European types of hantaviruses and hantavirus infections, which most often manifest as a milder form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. “This disease is caused by the Puumala virus, which is among the most common causes of hantavirus infections in Central and Northern Europe. The transmission of this virus between humans has not been documented so far.” ÚVZ noted that several dozen cases of diseases are reported annually in Slovakia.
In our conditions, a person can become infected with hantavirus primarily in places where there are rodents or their feces. Rodents excrete the virus in urine, feces and saliva, a person becomes infected by contact with them or by inhaling aerosol or dust contaminated with rodent excreta. “Infection occurs less often through bites, the gateway is most often the respiratory tract,” completed by ÚVZ.
At the beginning of May, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on the outbreak of hantavirus infection on the cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean. Several cases of infection and three deaths have been confirmed so far. There were no citizens of Slovakia among the passengers and crew, the ÚVZ does not register any Slovaks who were in contact with the passengers.
