Is the long-lived hantavirus real?/ Here's what life looks like after infection

2026-05-12 08:24:00, Shëndeti CNA

Is the long-lived hantavirus real?/ Here's what life looks like after

A new study has raised concerns about the long-term effects of hantavirus infection, suggesting that many patients continue to experience serious health problems months after being discharged from the hospital.

The phenomenon, which researchers are comparing to COVID, is being unofficially called Hantavirus and is related to the long-term consequences after infection with the Andean virus, a dangerous form of hantavirus that can cause Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS).

Symptoms persist even after discharge from the hospital

According to researchers at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, none of the 21 patients followed in the study had fully recovered three to six months after being discharged from the hospital.

More than 60 percent of survivors reported continuing health problems, with each patient having an average of 11 to 12 ongoing symptoms.

Among the most common symptoms were chronic fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, memory problems, hair loss, sensory disorders, and motor difficulties.

Experts emphasize that the problems were not only physical, but also neurological and psychological, significantly affecting the patients' quality of life.

Difficult return to normal life

The study showed that many patients had difficulty returning to work or school even six months after infection.

Almost one in five survivors had not yet returned to normal activities, while those who did return reported lower performance and persistent fatigue.

Some patients said they had also experienced social stigmatization, especially at work or school, due to fear of being infected with the virus transmitted by rodents.

Self-medication and lack of rehabilitation

Many survivors stated that they had begun self-medicating to manage long-term symptoms, using painkillers, sleeping pills, and vitamins.

The researchers also noted a lack of rehabilitation care after discharge from the hospital, especially for patients who had not progressed past the most severe forms of the disease.

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a group of viruses that are transmitted mainly by rodents and can cause severe respiratory illness. The Andean virus, which is mainly found in South America, is considered one of the most dangerous forms.

Although the World Health Organization has stated that there is no evidence that hantavirus could become a pandemic like COVID-19, experts are calling for more attention to the long-term consequences of the infection.

The study authors emphasize that survival from the acute phase of the disease is not enough and that patients need long-term care, rehabilitation, and psychological support to fully restore normal life./ CNA