Venezuela Confirms Three Deaths from Hantavirus

Mexico City (ANTARA) - Venezuela’s Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday (21/7) the deaths of three patients infected with hantavirus in Anzoategui state, with no cases of human-to-human transmission recorded in the country.

“We are reporting the deaths of three patients in Anzoategui state with a confirmed diagnosis of hantavirus. This virus is transmitted by rodents in agricultural areas, mainly through the inhalation of particles from urine, faeces or saliva in enclosed spaces. There is no scientific evidence of transmission of the virus between humans in this country,” the ministry said in a statement.

Two other health workers died in Barinas state, and the cause of their deaths is still under investigation, it said.

The ministry added that the two incidents are not related and that the final results of the investigation will be announced.

A deadly hantavirus outbreak occurred in early May aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde. Three people died.

The passengers were subsequently evacuated, and the ship, carrying the body of a passenger who died from the virus, sailed to Rotterdam.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said an American citizen evacuated from the ship had mild hantavirus symptoms, while another person tested positive for the Andes variant.

Hantavirus is a group of viruses transmitted to humans through contact with rodents. The virus can cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).