The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reports a person has tested positive for hantavirus.
The man had returned from a trip to South America (MV Hondius cruise ship) with his wife at the end of April. After experiencing symptoms, he consulted his family doctor by phone and went to the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) for testing. He was immediately isolated.
A test conducted at the reference laboratory of the Geneva University Hospital (HUG) confirmed a positive result for the Andes virus, a hantavirus found in South America.
Unlike European hantaviruses, which are transmitted through the excrement of infected rodents, human-to-human transmission of the American hantavirus variant has been observed only rarely. However, transmission only occurs through close contact. Therefore, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) considers the occurrence of further cases in Switzerland unlikely. The risk to the Swiss population is low.
The patient's wife also traveled with him. She is currently asymptomatic and has self-isolated as a precaution. Cantonal authorities are investigating whether the patient had contact with anyone else during his illness. The patient is being treated at the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) under strict safety protocols. The USZ is a designated reference hospital for such illnesses.
According to the World Health Organization, as of 6 May, there are 8 cases, 3 of whom are confirmed as hantavirus by laboratory testing.
Andes virus: Outbreak linked to a super-spreader event in Argentina
What is Andes virus?
Pathogenic hantaviruses are members of the family Hantaviridae and genus Orthohantavirus. These viruses are responsible for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the Americas. In Argentina, HPS was first described in 1995 during an outbreak in the Andean region of Patagonia, leading to the characterization of Andes virus (ANDV). Since then, >1,200 cases have been confirmed in Argentina.
Hantaviruses are enveloped, single-stranded, RNA viruses.
Humans usually become infected with hantaviruses through inhalation of aerosolized excreta produced by infected rodents. ANDV is the unique hantavirus capable of being transmitted from person-to-person. Infection by this route takes place during the early prodromal phase, and the incubation period ranges from 9 to 40 days.
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Andes hantavirus in Patagonia, Argentina: The use of Rapid Data Collection