Hantavirus Live Map
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¿Qué es el hantavirus?

Los hantavirus son una familia de virus de ARN transmitidos por roedores que pueden causar enfermedades graves —y a veces mortales— en humanos. Se propagan principalmente por contacto con la orina, los excrementos o la saliva de roedores infectados, sobre todo cuando se inhala polvo contaminado.

El contenido detallado de las preguntas frecuentes está actualmente solo en inglés — traducciones próximamente.

The basics

Family
Hantaviridae (order Bunyavirales)
Enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses. Each hantavirus is closely tied to a specific rodent host species.
Reservoir
Wild rodents
Deer mice, cotton rats, rice rats, white-footed mice, and the long-tailed pygmy rice rat (the host for Andes virus) carry the virus without becoming sick themselves.
Diseases
HPS and HFRS
New World hantaviruses cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Old World strains tend to cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).
Severity
High case-fatality rate
HPS has a roughly 30–40% case-fatality rate. There is no specific antiviral treatment; care is supportive, often in an ICU.

Andes virus (ANDV)

Andes virus is a New World hantavirus first identified in southern Argentina in the 1990s. Its primary reservoir is the long-tailed pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus). ANDV is the strain at the center of the 2025–2026 outbreak this site tracks.

ANDV is unusual among hantaviruses for one critical reason: it is the only strain with documented evidence of person-to-person transmission, including within households and healthcare settings. Most other hantaviruses do not spread between people.

How it spreads

  • Aerosolized droppings: sweeping or vacuuming dust contaminated with rodent urine or feces can release virus into the air.
  • Direct contact: touching nesting material or surfaces and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Bites: rare, but bites from an infected rodent can transmit the virus.
  • Person-to-person (ANDV only): close contact with respiratory secretions of a symptomatic patient. This has not been reported for other hantaviruses.

Symptoms and timeline

Incubation is typically 1–8 weeks after exposure. Illness usually unfolds in two phases:

Early phase (days 1–5)
Fever, severe muscle aches (especially thighs, hips, back), fatigue, headache, dizziness, chills, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. Easy to mistake for flu.
Cardiopulmonary phase (after ~day 4–10)
Coughing, shortness of breath, and rapid fluid buildup in the lungs. This stage can progress quickly to respiratory failure and shock — emergency care is essential.

Anyone with a known rodent exposure who develops fever and shortness of breath should seek medical care immediately and mention the possible exposure.

Treatment

There is no licensed antiviral or vaccine for hantavirus disease in most countries. Treatment is supportive: oxygen, mechanical ventilation, careful fluid management, and in the most severe cases ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Early recognition and ICU-level care substantially improve outcomes.

Prevention

  • Seal openings larger than ~1/4 inch in homes, sheds, and cabins.
  • Store food (including pet food) in rodent-proof containers; remove attractants.
  • Do not sweep or vacuum visible droppings. Ventilate the area for at least 30 minutes, then wet down with a bleach solution (1:10) before wiping with disposable towels while wearing gloves and an N95 or better respirator.
  • Avoid disturbing rodent nests in cabins, woodpiles, and outbuildings.
  • During an active ANDV outbreak, follow local public health guidance on contact precautions for symptomatic patients.

The 2025–2026 outbreak

This site tracks confirmed, suspected, and fatal cases tied to the ongoing 2025–2026 ANDV cluster, including the cruise-ship-linked exposures that drew international attention. Live case markers come from the public ANDV Hantavirus 2026 dashboard; trending search queries and curated news links are refreshed daily.

Ver seguimiento en directoPanel ANDV 2026

Esta página es una referencia general, no asesoramiento médico. Para diagnóstico o tratamiento, contacta con un profesional sanitario o tu autoridad de salud pública local.