{
  "id": 14094395,
  "title": "Andes virus from the MV Hondius outbreak is highly pathogenic in hamsters and airborne shed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/andes-virus-from-the-mv-hondius-outbreak-is-highly-pathogenic-in",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-12T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.12.758426v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In May 2026, a hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) outbreak linked to the Andes virus (ANDV) was identified on the cruise ship MV Hondius, prompting public health responses across several nations. Human ANDV infections typically arise sporadically, primarily due to contact with infected rodents in South America. However, instances like the 2026 outbreak on the MV Hondius demonstrate smaller clusters of human cases. The origin of the distinct epidemiology remains unclear, and the newly emerged ANDV (ANDV2026) has not undergone phenotypic characterization thus far. Researchers studied an ANDV2026 isolate from a pre-symptomatic patient on the MV Hondius, focusing on pathogenesis, viral replication sites, innate and adaptive immune responses, and shedding in golden Syrian hamsters. The findings revealed that ANDV2026 exhibited high pathogenicity in hamsters, inducing severe pulmonary disease akin to HPS. The virus triggered a delayed type-I interferon response and inflammatory response in the lungs, mirroring the main pathological aspects of HPS. ANDV2026 was found to replicate in both respiratory and extrapulmonary tissues, including the brain. Infected hamsters produced neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses, predominantly targeting the L and N proteins. Importantly, ANDV2026-infected animals shed virus through multiple routes, with infectious virus detected in air samplers near the cages of infected hamsters. In contrast, hamsters infected with a rodent-derived ANDV isolate (ANDV9717869) shed minimal virus, with consistently negative air samples. These results reinforce known aspects of ANDV pathogenesis while uncovering characteristics not previously observed. Phenotypic characterization of patient-derived ANDV isolates in animal models can enhance outbreak preparedness, identify disease severity markers, and aid in the development of medical countermeasures.",
  "summary": "In May 2026, an outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) caused by Andes virus (ANDV) was detected aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, sparking public health measures in multiple countries. ANDV infections in humans are mostly sporadic, most often linked to exposure to infected rodents in South America, although small clusters of human cases, like the 2026 outbreak on the MV Hondius occur…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}