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Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization, said the Andes strain of hantavirus is far less transmissible than the coronavirus that caused the Covid-19 pandemic. She emphasized the limited human-to-human spread of the virus, contrasting it with the rapid global transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
The comments were made in response to growing public interest in emerging viral diseases, including hantavirus, which is primarily spread through rodent excreta. While the Andes strain can transmit between humans in rare cases, Swaminathan noted such instances are uncommon and do not sustain prolonged outbreaks.
Health authorities in India and globally continue to monitor zoonotic disease threats, though no cases of Andes hantavirus have been reported in India. Swaminathan urged reliance on scientific evidence to assess risks and avoid misinformation.
Public health agencies will maintain surveillance for rodent-borne diseases, particularly in rural and forested regions. The WHO is expected to release updated guidance on hantavirus risk assessment in the coming weeks.