After being identified in connection to a recent outbreak on a cruise ship, the entire world now has Hantavirus in its sights, with emphasis on the Andes variety. After media exposure that resulted in the death of three people and more than ten infections, it would seem there is cause for worry. The reason for increased hysteria? It has all been the result of several new claims that the disease is also transmissible via breast milk and semen.
These reports have created much fear and stress for families especially if they had any pregnant women and/or young children in the household. Even though some reports on social media are rather alarming, medical experts are asking the public not to be too afraid. This debate arose from actual peer-reviewed publications about the Andes virus (ANDV).
Transmission Through Semen: In the recent scientific discussion, attention was drawn to a Swiss study reporting that the virus’s RNA may stay in a man’s semen in “immune privileged” locations such as the testes for up to six years. Although this suggests possible sexual transmission, the key point is that there have been no cases of sexually transmitted hantavirus infection reported to date. It should be noted that the existence of viral RNA does not indicate the activity of the virus in question.
Transmission Through Breast Milk: There have been reports of hantavirus transmission from infected mothers to their babies through breast milk cells in Chilean women at the acutely ill phase. Nevertheless, according to epidemiologists, this kind of human-to-human transmission is very rare.
Unlike SARS-CoV-2 that spreads quickly in the air, Hantavirus infections spread as a result of direct contact with contaminated rodents and their fecal material. WHO evaluated the current level of global threat posed by Hantavirus to the public as low. Although the infected woman has been recommended to avoid nursing her baby due to her acutely ill condition, the situation is not critical for ordinary people.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News