Hantavirus vs. COVID-19, Measles, RSV: How Contagious Is It?

The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has raised concerns, with three Canadians currently isolating after potential exposure. Four other Canadians remain quarantined on the ship. Three people on board have died, and the World Health Organization is investigating.

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, emphasized that hantavirus spreads very differently from COVID-19. Most hantaviruses are transmitted from rodents, not person-to-person, with the Andes strain being a rare exception. The virus's reproduction number on the ship is unclear, but officials say its capacity to spread is low. The average case fatality rate is 40%.

By comparison, COVID-19 had a reproduction number between one and four, with a fatality rate around 1.1% in Canada. Measles is far more contagious, with a reproduction number between 12 and 18, and a fatality rate of 0.3%. RSV has a reproduction number between one and five, with the highest fatality rate in infants.

Dr. Kerkhove stated unequivocally: "This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the start of a COVID pandemic. This is an outbreak on a ship."