Authors
Shakhmardanov M. Z.
Skryabina A. A.
Tereshkin N. A.
Nikiforov V. V.
Tomilin Y. N.
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
Corresponding Author
Shakhmardanov; e-mail: mur2025@rambler.ru
Conflict of interest
None declared.
Funding
The study had no sponsorship.
Received
15.05.2026
Accepted for publication
16.05.2026
Abstract
Orthohantavirus viruses cause mainly two nosological forms: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is endemic in the Russian Federation, and its epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations are well studied. No cases of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome have been reported in Russia before. The outbreak of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which was traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde in May 2026, has raised concerns among the global medical community about the potential for a pandemic spread of this infection. Based on the analysis of published studies, the article presents current information on the etiology, distribution, sources of infection, mechanisms, and routes of transmission of the causative agents of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. Special attention is paid to the epidemiology of the Andes virus, the only orthohantavirus that can be transmitted from person to person. The article describes the current mechanisms and routes of transmission of the Andes virus. It is suggested that the Andes virus cannot spread in a pandemic manner.
Key words
orthohantaviruses, Andes virus (Orthohantavirus andesense, ANDV), Sin Nombre virus (SNV), hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome
DOI
