Research reveals a startling finding that hantavirus may remain in the semen of male patients for almost six years even after their bodies have recovered, warning of possible sexual transmission.
Several international media outlets have revisited a 2023 study on hantavirus following an outbreak of the Andes strain on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which has resulted in three deaths.
This study, peer-reviewed and published in the journal Viruses, was conducted by a research team from Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland. It involved a 55-year-old man who had been infected with the Andes hantavirus strain for nearly six years. The virus was no longer detectable in his blood, urine, or respiratory system, but viral genetic material was still found in his semen. Researchers noted that the virus could potentially be transmissible for up to 71 months, or about 5 years and 11 months, after infection.
The study explains that the testes are considered a sanctuary site for some pathogens because the body's immune system does not attack sperm to preserve reproductive ability. This allows certain viruses, such as hantavirus, Ebola, and Zika, to hide in the testes even after the body has cleared the infection from other organs.
Researchers stated that currently over 27 infectious diseases are known to reside in the testes and persist in the body for extended periods.
Although researchers emphasize that there have been no official reports confirming sexual transmission of hantavirus, the study indicates a biological possibility that the virus could spread through semen. This research suggests that the Andes virus has the potential for sexual transmission.
Previously, a similar case occurred with Ebola virus during the 2021 outbreak in Guinea, which caused 12 deaths. It was later found to originate from a man who survived the 2014-2016 epidemic and transmitted the virus through unprotected sexual contact.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that Ebola survivors have their semen tested every three months and avoid unprotected sex until two consecutive tests show no virus.
Meanwhile, epidemiology analysis firm Airfinity stated that patients infected with the Andes hantavirus strain should receive strict sexual health guidance similar to Ebola patients, even after completing the 42-day quarantine period.
The Andes hantavirus strain typically spreads from rodents to humans but can, in some cases, be transmitted between people.
The WHO revealed that additional cases may emerge from the cluster on the MV Hondius cruise ship but emphasized that the situation does not yet constitute a pandemic threat like COVID-19 and is not considered a global outbreak risk.
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