GHarcziStatement from the Intl #Hantavirus Society & research clinical community regarding the
current Andes virus (#ANDV) outbreak investigation
"ANDV transmission dynamics differ fundamentally from highly transmissible respiratory viruses such as #measles virus, influenza A viruses or #SARS-CoV-2. Current evidence does not suggest efficient sustained transmission through casual community contact.
However, outbreak investigations in Argentina and Chile show that ANDV transmission can occur during close and/or prolonged interpersonal contact. [...]
Current evidence does not support describing Andes virus as ‘barely transmissible’
Some public discussions have characterized ANDV as having only minimal or negligible human-to-human transmission potential. The available scientific literature does not support such simplified conclusions. [...]
The precise timing of infectiousness remains incompletely defined. Symptomatic patients are likely to represent the highest-risk group, but available outbreak reconstructions do not support overly categorical statements that
transmission can occur only after overt symptom onset. Transmission potential during prodromal early symptomatic or minimally symptomatic phases, should be considered when designing contact tracing, testing & quarantine strategies.
This is particularly relevant in closed settings such as a cruise vessel, where ANDV-exposed individuals may still be within the incubation period. A negative PCR result early after exposure should therefore not be interpreted as excluding later infection. [...]
Further genomic characterization, epidemiological reconstruction and contact tracing will be essential to clarify the transmission dynamics involved in the current outbreak linked to the cruise ship “#Hondius”.
https://zenodo.org/records/20095475
current Andes virus (#ANDV) outbreak investigation
"ANDV transmission dynamics differ fundamentally from highly transmissible respiratory viruses such as #measles virus, influenza A viruses or #SARS-CoV-2. Current evidence does not suggest efficient sustained transmission through casual community contact.
However, outbreak investigations in Argentina and Chile show that ANDV transmission can occur during close and/or prolonged interpersonal contact. [...]
Current evidence does not support describing Andes virus as ‘barely transmissible’
Some public discussions have characterized ANDV as having only minimal or negligible human-to-human transmission potential. The available scientific literature does not support such simplified conclusions. [...]
The precise timing of infectiousness remains incompletely defined. Symptomatic patients are likely to represent the highest-risk group, but available outbreak reconstructions do not support overly categorical statements that
transmission can occur only after overt symptom onset. Transmission potential during prodromal early symptomatic or minimally symptomatic phases, should be considered when designing contact tracing, testing & quarantine strategies.
This is particularly relevant in closed settings such as a cruise vessel, where ANDV-exposed individuals may still be within the incubation period. A negative PCR result early after exposure should therefore not be interpreted as excluding later infection. [...]
Further genomic characterization, epidemiological reconstruction and contact tracing will be essential to clarify the transmission dynamics involved in the current outbreak linked to the cruise ship “#Hondius”.
https://zenodo.org/records/20095475
Statement from the International Hantavirus Society and members of the international hantavirus research and clinical community regarding Andes virus transmission and the current outbreak investigation
This statement summarizes current scientific evidence regarding Andes virus (ANDV) transmission dynamics, including documented person-to-person transmission, outbreak epidemiology, infection control considerations and implications for public health management during the ongoing cruise ship outbreak investigation in the South Atlantic. The document was prepared by members of the International Society for Hantaviruses (ISH) and the international hantavirus scientific and medical community.
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