Hantavirus: What We Know
The following blog contains information that we will be updating; the last update was on May 8th:
https://healthselfdefense.substack.com/p/hantavirus-what-we-know
1. What is a hantavirus?
It is a family of viruses. They are found in animal hosts, often rodents (rats, voles, field mice, etc.), and sometimes in other animals (bats, fish, moles, etc.). There are many different types. These viruses are present all over the world. In humans, they can cause problems in the lungs, heart, kidneys, etc. The disease is quite rare in France (around one hundred people are hospitalized each year). There is no specific treatment for these viruses; the symptoms are treated while the body recovers.
2. Why are we talking about this now?
Because three deaths were reported among the passengers and crew of the MV Hondius, which departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 bound for Cape Verde (West Africa). Doctors performed tests and detected hantavirus.
3. What are the symptoms?
Fever, sometimes high, muscle aches, extreme fatigue (similar to the flu), sometimes shortness of breath, diarrhea, hemorrhages (abnormal bleeding), etc.
4. How is it transmitted?
Most hantaviruses are transmitted from animals to humans (this is called zoonosis), but very few are transmitted between humans. Unfortunately, the strain detected on the cruise ship is the Andean type, known to be more easily transmitted between humans than other strains.
There is a relatively long incubation period (that is, the time between infection and the onset of symptoms), averaging 2 weeks (ranging from 1 to 8 weeks). This is bad news; it means that many people will become infected without even realizing it, and that it may take up to 2 months for them to show symptoms.
Currently, the evidence indicates that it is transmitted via aerosols and droplets. Unfortunately, as at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments are spreading misinformation by focusing solely on droplets. This decision to only discuss one transmission route and not the other is not based on science, but rather on prioritizing the capitalist economy.
We are seeing the same patterns of downplaying the hantavirus as with COVID. This downplaying is not based on facts, but on the greed of capitalism. The capitalist system depends on constant growth: production, consumption, and the constant expansion of profits. Even brief pauses have disastrous effects on capital. We are repeatedly told “not to panic” while failing to provide accurate information about the virus. When a pandemic threat looms, those most afraid are the capitalists, because their economy cannot withstand even a small pause.
Implementing the necessary mass prevention strategies to curb transmission (daily rapid testing, contact tracing, guaranteed paid leave for exposed workers, high-quality masks for the population, etc.) is costly and reduces profits.
For capitalism to function, two things are required: a constant supply of workers who produce value and an endless flow of consumption to materialize that value as profit for the capitalist. When we face the prospect of death and pandemics, the contradictions become starkly apparent. We realize that governments in capitalist systems don’t prioritize our lives, but rather the pursuit of profit.
Media attention focuses on reproducing the official rhetoric through opinion pieces and interviews. Scientists don’t all think alike; there are conservatives and progressives, scientists who prioritize care and those who will say anything to defend the stability of capitalism. The experts promoted by the government and most media outlets are selected based on their proximity to power, both in terms of their official appointment and their rhetorical stance.
5. Are there risks?
When you contract hantavirus, there is a risk of death. The risk varies depending on the type of hantavirus. The Andean type detected on Mount Hondius causes the death of between 3 and 6 out of every 10 infected people.
In general, it is currently very difficult to determine whether there is a real risk or not. Outbreaks caused by this virus have already occurred, and they were controlled quite quickly.
What we can say for sure is that the necessary measures were not taken (properly isolating the sick and those who were in contact with them, requiring the use of FFP2 masks, etc.) or were not taken correctly.
6. How can I protect myself?
In general, against hantaviruses, it is recommended to wear an FFP2 mask when working in places where there may be rodents, especially if dust is generated (when cleaning a room, transporting wood or soil, etc.), wear gloves, and wash your hands afterward. We recommend the widespread use of FFP2 masks.
Currently, there is no effective vaccine against hantavirus.
Press review and scientific articles for further reading:
- A glossary with definitions of terms used on the subject such as case fatality rate, zoonosis, reservoir species, etc.
https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2026/05/06/hantavirus-de-la-souche-andres-au-taux-de-letalite-le-lexique-pour-comprendre-les-mots-qui-circulent-avec-ce-virus_6686157_4355770.html
- A Le Monde article summarizing the situation as of May 3, 2026: https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2026/05/03/un-foyer-de-syndrome-respiratoire-aigu-s-est-declare-a-bord-du-bateau-de-croisiere-mv-hondius-deux-personnes-sont-mortes-et-une-troisieme-est-en-soins-intensifs_6685243_3244.html
- Libération: “Outbreak on a cruise ship: the two patients will be evacuated to the Netherlands.” https://www.liberation.fr/societe/sante/en-direct-hantavirus-lespagne-accepte-un-accostage-du-bateau-aux-canaries-20260505_LYVENHIKJFEDNICYAEZYF6JYMU/
- El País “A Spanish passenger on the MV Hondius: ‘There are 23 people who disembarked on the island of Santa Elena two weeks ago’”
https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2026-05-06/un-pasajero-espanol-en-el-hondius-hay-23-personas-que-bajaron-en-la-isla-de-ascension-y-han-estado-dando-vueltas-por-ahi.html
- A France 24 program: “Is it aerosolized?” (Virologist’s response: We’re not sure, but probably yes.)
- The Daily Beast “Hantavirus crisis spreads to new country”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/hantavirus-crisis-spreads-to-france-as-new-case-recorded-in-french-national/
(Human-to-human transmission seemingly confirmed)
- La Monde “Hantavirus: Spain to welcome MV ‘Hondius’ to the Canary Islands within ‘three to four days’” »”
https://www.lemonde.fr/sante/article/2026/05/05/foyer-de-hantavirus-sur-un-navire-de-croisiere-l-oms-soupconne-une-transmission-interhumaine-l-espagne-accepte-l-accostage-du-bateau-aux-canaries_6685571_1651303.html
#HealthSelfDefense #Hantavirus #Aerosols
.
