The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has urged the public to rely on accurate information and avoiding misinformation about the Hantavirus.
Fear has spread through the Caribbean since the virus was blamed as the cause of deaths on a cruise ship.
There are approximately 10 confirmed cases of Hantavirus connected to the MV Hondius outbreak, with three deaths.
โWe are trying to curb the hype because based on the scientific evidence, the risk remains low. CARPHA, in being very diligent, if, in the unlikely situation this were to change, CARPHA would be the first to notify the Caribbean public,โ said CARPHA Executive Director Dr Lisa Indar.
She reiterated CARPHAโs earlier statement that the risk to the Caribbean from the recent outbreak remains low.
โThis is due to the scientific evidence that shows hantavirus does not spread easily between people. The Andes strain linked to this outbreak is unusual in that limited person-to-person transmission has been observed,โ Dr Indar said.
โHowever, this is rare, requiring close and prolonged contact, and it has not been not been shown to spread widely in communities.โ
Dr Indar also addressed concerns about the hantavirus causing a global pandemic similar to COVID-19.
โCOVID-19 spread globally because it spread easily between people, including those with mild or no symptoms. In contrast, Hantavirus is rodent-borne and human-to-human spread is uncommon and requires close and intimate contact,โ she said.
โThis fundamental difference means that Hantavirus does not have the same potential to cause a global pandemic.โ
There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine to treat Hantavirus, while care is supportive, including oxygen therapy and intensive monitoring.
CARPHA issued advice to the public to prevent the spread of viral illnesses.
โCARPHA encourages the public to always practice good hygiene, including frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with people who are unwell, and taking precautions in environments where rodents may be present. These measures are effective not only for hantavirus, but for a wide range of infectious diseases,โ it stated.
