{"id":11412,"date":"2026-05-19T11:04:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T01:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tristel.com\/au-en\/latest-news\/\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T11:20:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T01:20:18","slug":"under-the-microscope-hantavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tristel.com\/au-en\/latest-news\/under-the-microscope-hantavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Under the Microscope: Hantavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Hantaviruses are rare but potentially serious zoonotic viruses that can cause severe respiratory or renal disease. Although infections are uncommon, recent reports linking an outbreak in a cruise ship environment to the Andes virus have renewed public health interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are hantaviruses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hantaviruses are a group of enveloped RNA viruses belonging to the Hantaviridae<\/em> family. They are zoonotic pathogens, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans, and are recognised globally as causes of serious respiratory and renal disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hantavirus infections are relatively uncommon worldwide but can be severe. Different hantavirus species are associated with distinct clinical syndromes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know?<\/strong> The WHO estimates that 10,000 to over 100,000 infections occur each year, with the largest disease burden reported in Asia and Europe.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Where are hantaviruses found?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hantaviruses are naturally carried by rodents<\/strong>, which act as the primary reservoir. The virus is shed in rodent urine, droppings, and saliva<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human exposure most commonly occurs when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surfaces or objects contaminated with rodent excreta are touched, followed by contact with the mouth, nose, or eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dust contaminated with rodent urine or faeces becomes airborne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People enter enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces where rodents are present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know?<\/strong> Environments such as cabins, storage areas, utility spaces, food handling areas, and rarely used rooms present higher risk if rodent activity is present.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What does hantavirus cause?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Early symptoms of hantavirus infection are often non\u2011specific<\/strong> and may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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