Here is the latest on Andes virus based on available public reporting up to now.
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General context: Andes virus is a hantavirus primarily carried by rodents in South America, with occasional human-to-human transmission reported in specific outbreaks. It can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which can be severe or fatal.[4][6]
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Notable recent developments:
- Vaccination research: In 2024, UTMB reported progress with two mRNA vaccine candidates that protected against Andes virus in an animal model, suggesting potential for future vaccine development (no approved human vaccine exists yet). This work was highlighted in UTMB communications and related press coverage.[1][3]
- Historical outbreak insights: Past analyses highlighted the 2018–2019 Epuyén outbreak in Argentina, where a single spillover event led to multiple human cases and demonstrated substantial transmission potential, underscoring the importance of PPE and infection control in healthcare settings. This event is frequently cited in review articles about Andes virus transmission dynamics.[2][4]
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Public health resources:
- CDC hantavirus page provides background on Andes virus, transmission, and prevention measures for at-risk populations.[6]
- Virology and surveillance literature continues to document genetic diversity of Andes virus strains across South America, including strains associated with outbreak events and their epidemiology.[9][4]
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What is uncertain or evolving:
- There is no widely available, approved vaccine for Andes virus in humans as of now; prior vaccine efforts have shown promise in preclinical models but require human trials and regulatory approval.[3][1]
- Ongoing outbreaks or new reports may emerge; keep an eye on major public health agencies (CDC, WHO) and reputable journals for updates.
Illustrative example:
- If a new outbreak occurred in a non-endemic setting, public health guidance would emphasize rapid case finding, contact tracing, use of PPE for healthcare workers, and genomic characterization to assess human-to-human transmission potential, consistent with lessons from Epuyén and related studies.[2][6]
If you’d like, I can narrow this to:
- a quick one-paragraph briefing for a briefing note,
- a timeline of major Andes virus events in the last decade,
- or a short list of reputable sources for ongoing monitoring.
Sources
"Super-spreader" events and extensive person-to-person contact propelled an outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in a small village in Argentina from 2018-2019, according to research published today in The New England Journal of Medicine. An international scientific team reports the genetic, clinical, and epidemiologic features of the outbreak caused by the Andes virus, a member of the hantavirus family. Their analysis could aid in managing outbreaks of other viral diseases with similar...
www.eurekalert.orgA recent study at the University of Texas Medical Branch, published in Nature Communications, has shown that an mRNA vaccine developed by UTMB scientists protects against Andes virus in an animal model.
www.utmb.eduTo better describe the genetic diversity of hantaviruses associated with human illness in South America, we screened blood samples from febrile patients in Chapare Province in central Bolivia during 2008-2009 for recent hantavirus infection. Hantavirus RNA was detected in 3 patients, including 1 who …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govA mRNA vaccine protects against Andes virus in an animal model, according to a new study by UTMB scientists. Andes virus is a prominent rodent-borne virus in South America and has human fatality rates up to 30 percent.
www.utmb.eduNovel Strain of Andes Virus, Central Bolivia
wwwnc.cdc.govOn November 2, 2018, a person-to-person transmission outbreak of Andes virus (Orthohantavirus andesense) began in the small town of Epuyén, Argentina. The strain demonstrated a high capacity for sustained transmission among the human population ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov