Andes virus (hantavirus)

Hantaviruses are viruses belonging to the Bunyaviridae family, found on every continent and comprising more than 140 types identified to date. Each variant of hantavirus is found in a specific host rodent species and has a very localised geographical distribution. For example, the European hantavirus (Puumala) is carried by the bank vole, whilst the Andean hantavirus is transmitted by the rodent Oligoryzomys longicaudatus. Hantaviruses can sometimes be transmitted to humans. Human infection occurs mainly through inhalation of dust or aerosols contaminated by the urine, faeces or saliva of infected rodents.

The disease begins like flu (fever, headache, muscle pain) and can, in the most severe cases, lead to serious kidney or respiratory failure.

There is currently no specifically approved antiviral treatment or authorised vaccine in Europe. In the event of illness, doctors treat the symptoms on a case-by-case basis and care is provided in a hospital setting.

Hantaviruses are transmitted to humans through contact with infected wild rodents. Infection occurs through inhalation of dust or aerosols contaminated by their urine, faeces or saliva. This can happen, for example, when cleaning an attic, a cellar or a garden shed, or during activities in forests and fields.

However, the current situation draws attention to the Andes virus, a strain of hantavirus found in the Andes Mountain range and implicated in the outbreak detected in May 2026 on a cruise ship. Unlike the hantaviruses usually observed in Europe, the Andes virus can be transmitted from person to person. Nevertheless, such transmission is considered rare and requires close or prolonged contact with an infected person.

The incubation period for the Andes virus generally ranges from one to six weeks after exposure. Close monitoring may therefore be recommended during this period for people identified by the health authorities as being at risk.

No Luxembourg nationals are affected to date.

Further information: Hantavirus infection

According to the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the risk to the global population and to Europe from hantavirus infections remains low. They are continuing to monitor the situation and will update their assessment if new information emerges.

Information about this event continues to evolve and recommendations may be adapted in line with new data. Health authorities are continuing to monitor the situation in coordination with their national and international partners.

Sustained spread in the general population is considered highly unlikely, as the Andes virus is not easily transmitted between people. Furthermore, human-to-human transmission on the cruise ship has not yet been formally demonstrated. Moreover, the natural reservoir of the Andes virus is absent outside the Andean region, making sustained community transmission unlikely.

The hantaviruses circulating in Europe are not transmissible between people. In relation to the outbreak detected on the cruise ship in May 2026, those identified as contacts of the outbreak are currently being monitored and appropriate precautionary measures are in place. At this stage, no particular risk has been identified for the population in Luxembourg.

There are no specific preventive measures. Hand hygiene is the only general measure that can be recommended.

In general, if you develop a fever or any worrying symptoms after returning from a trip outside our region, you should consult a doctor and inform them of the areas you have visited. The doctor will assess whether tests are needed to screen for diseases that are not necessarily endemic in our region.