Do hantavirus patients need to be isolated? What precautions are required?

Isolation requirements differ by hantavirus species. For most variants (Sin Nombre, Puumala, Hantaan, Seoul): standard contact precautions are sufficient because there is no documented human-to-human transmission. Healthcare workers should use standard PPE (gloves, surgical mask, eye protection) during procedures that generate aerosols from bodily fluids. For Andes virus — the strain in the MV Hondius 2026 cluster — WHO and ECDC recommend upgraded droplet-plus-contact precautions given the documented, albeit rare, human-to-human transmission risk. This means N95 or equivalent respirator, gown, gloves, and eye shield for direct patient care. The CDC advises airborne precautions (negative-pressure room + N95) when performing high-aerosol procedures such as intubation or bronchoscopy on suspected HPS patients. In the MV Hondius outbreak, WHO distributed 2,500 diagnostic kits and issued specific healthcare-worker guidance emphasizing that Andes virus requires a heightened precautionary approach. Household contacts of Andes virus patients should self-monitor for symptoms for 8 weeks from last exposure; they do not require medical isolation unless symptomatic.