Hantavirus can survive in semen 6 years after infection: Study
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- A 2023 study indicates the Andes strain of hantavirus can persist in semen for years and potentially be transmitted sexually long after initial infection.
- The recent deadly outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship resulted in three deaths and multiple infections, including some Americans now monitored in the U.S.
- The Andes strain is unique among hantaviruses for its person-to-person transmission but is not expected to cause a pandemic, despite a high mortality rate of up to 40%.
- Researchers found viral RNA in the semen of a survivor nearly six years post-infection, suggesting sexual transmission could occur up to 71 months after infection, though further research is needed.
- Persistence of viruses in semen is documented in other diseases like Ebola and Zika, highlighting a broader concern about sexual transmission of certain pathogens.