Hantavirus is not going to be a pandemic: Dr Soumya Swaminathan

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at World Health Organisation (WHO), discussed the recent Andes hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. She clarified that while the Andes strain can spread from human to human through close physical contact, it lacks the rapid airborne transmission seen in COVID-19. Addressing global fears, she stated, "The short answer is no. It's not going to be a pandemic." Dr Swaminathan emphasised that the current situation is a contained outbreak with no risk to the wider public, noting that public health actions, including testing and quarantine protocols, have already been implemented. She also addressed the infection of a flight attendant, attributing it to potential close contact and droplet transmission. Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of using such outbreaks to evaluate national and global readiness for future health crises, questioning whether Indian ports and health authorities are adequately equipped. She recommended self-isolation for the asymptomatic Indian crew members, provided they are monitored closely.