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Hantavirus Lingers in Semen for 71 Months Post-Recovery
15 May
Summary
- Hantavirus traces remained in semen for 71 months after recovery.
- Viral RNA disappeared from blood, urine, and respiratory samples sooner.
- Researchers could not isolate infectious viruses from the semen samples.
Traces of hantavirus were found in a patient's semen 71 months after they had recovered from the infection. Viral RNA had disappeared from blood, urine, and respiratory samples much earlier, but persisted in semen for 2,188 days. Researchers were unable to isolate infectious viruses from these samples, meaning it's unproven whether sexual transmission is possible.
The study authors indicated that sexual transmission could not be ruled out due to the difficulty in isolating hantaviruses. They concluded that the Andes virus shows potential for sexual transmission, though more research is required to determine if this long-term persistence is common among survivors.
Separately, six individuals who were on a cruise ship associated with a hantavirus outbreak have completed their isolation at a UK hospital and are now isolating at home. Health officials are monitoring them daily. These individuals remain asymptomatic.
