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Virus profile

Andes virus

ANDV · HPS

Syndrome
HPS
Reservoir
Long-tailed pygmy rice rat
Region
Southern
CFR
approximately 30–40%
Reservoir & range

Rodent host: Long-tailed pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus). Region: Southern South America (Argentina, Chile, parts of Uruguay and Bolivia). First identified: 1995, in El Bolsón, Patagonia, Argentina.

Overview

Andes virus is the dominant hantavirus strain in southern South America and is unique among hantaviruses for documented person-to-person transmission. The principal reservoir is the long-tailed pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus), which inhabits forested and rural areas of Patagonia and the Andean foothills. Andes virus produces hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) clinically similar to Sin Nombre virus disease in North America. Person-to-person transmission has been most clearly documented during the 2018–2019 Epuyén outbreak in Argentina.

Tracked countries

Live risk index and news for countries where Andes virus is documented or surveilled.

ArgentinaChileUruguayBolivia

Notable outbreaks

  1. 1995
    El Bolsón, Río Negro, Argentina

    First identification of Andes virus and the first documentation of person-to-person hantavirus spread.

  2. 1996
    Aysén Region, Chile

    Family cluster suggesting close-contact transmission between household members.

  3. 2018–2019
    Epuyén, Chubut, Argentina

    Roughly 34 confirmed cases and 11 deaths over several months — one of the largest documented person-to-person hantavirus outbreaks.

FAQ

Andes virus: questions answered

What is Andes virus?
Andes virus is the New World hantavirus strain endemic to southern Argentina and Chile and, to a lesser extent, Uruguay and Bolivia. It causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and is the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission.
Where does Andes virus circulate?
Andes virus is most strongly associated with Patagonia and the Andean foothills, particularly Río Negro, Chubut, Neuquén, and Aysén regions. The reservoir rodent — the long-tailed pygmy rice rat — favours forested and rural areas.
Can Andes virus spread between people?
Yes. Andes virus is the only hantavirus with confirmed person-to-person transmission, most clearly during the 2018–2019 Epuyén outbreak in Argentina. Close, prolonged contact appears to be required; casual contact has not been linked to spread.
What is the case-fatality rate of Andes virus infection?
Reported case-fatality rates for Andes virus HPS vary between approximately 30% and 40% depending on the country, healthcare access, and outbreak setting.

Other hantavirus strains

Sin Nombre virusHPS
Deer mouse · North America (especially the
Puumala virusHFRS
Bank vole · Northern, central, and western
Hantaan virusHFRS
Striped field mouse · East Asia (China, Korean
Seoul virusHFRS
Brown rat · Worldwide (anywhere brown rats
Reference

Read more: What is hantavirus · Symptoms · Transmission · Prevention · Historical outbreaks