{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1760946,
        "msgid": "why-hantavirus-quarantine-duration-far-exceeds-covid-19-protocols-1780366864",
        "date": "2026-05-24 09:05:00",
        "title": "Why Hantavirus Quarantine Duration Far Exceeds COVID-19 Protocols",
        "author": "Wisnu Arto Subari",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "A hantavirus outbreak aboard a Dutch cruise ship departing from Argentina has resulted in 11 confirmed infections and three deaths, prompting a 42-day quarantine period for affected passengers\u2014significantly longer than the standard 14-day COVID-19 quarantine. The extended isolation reflects the Andes virus variant's prolonged incubation window of 4 to 42 days, creating unique challenges for global health authorities in managing emerging pathogens with highly variable symptom onset periods.",
        "content": "<p>A deadly outbreak involving hantavirus has been reported aboard a\nDutch cruise ship sailing from Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean.\nAccording to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), 11 cases\nhave been confirmed to date, with three fatalities reported. Although no\nadditional cases have been reported on land, health authorities have\nimplemented strict preventive measures.<\/p>\n<p>Eighteen passengers from the United States aboard the vessel until 10\nMay are now undergoing quarantine at the University of Nebraska Medical\nCenter. Notably, the quarantine duration has been set at 42\ndays\u2014significantly longer than the standard 14-day quarantine applied\nduring the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Hantavirus is typically a family of viruses transmitted by rodents\n(rats) through urine, faeces, and saliva. However, the variant spreading\non this cruise ship has been identified as the Andes virus, a South\nAmerican strain with unique characteristics compared to other hantavirus\ntypes.<\/p>\n<p>Initial symptoms of Andes virus infection resemble influenza,\nincluding fever, fatigue, and muscle ache. However, in severe cases,\npatients may develop Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)\u2014a condition\ncharacterised by severe inflammation of the lungs and fluid\naccumulation, causing acute respiratory distress.<\/p>\n<p>The six-week quarantine period is based on the virus\u2019s uncommon\nincubation timeline. Dan Shirley, an infection prevention expert from UW\nHealth, explained that the Andes virus has an incubation window of\nbetween 4 to 42 days before symptoms emerge.<\/p>\n<p>Several factors contribute to this extended incubation and quarantine\nduration. Although this outbreak is lethal, experts emphasise that the\nrisk to the general public remains low. Luis Ostrosky, head of\ninfectious diseases at UTHealth Houston, stated that this exposure is\nhighly localised to a single cruise ship and all at-risk individuals\nhave been identified.<\/p>\n<p>As a general precaution against hantavirus, the public is advised\nto:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><p>Avoid contact with rodents and their droppings<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Ensure proper ventilation when cleaning areas potentially\ncontaminated by rodent waste<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Use appropriate protective equipment when handling suspected\nrodent-contaminated materials<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This outbreak serves as a reminder to the global health community\nthat high human mobility can transport viruses across continents within\ndays, necessitating adaptive quarantine systems that account for the\nunique characteristics of each pathogen.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/why-hantavirus-quarantine-duration-far-exceeds-covid-19-protocols-1780366864",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}