Who are the instructions for?
This page provides basic information about Andes virus to support communication by healthcare professionals.
What is Andes virus
Andes virus is an RNA virus belonging to the hantavirus family and can cause a severe disease mainly affecting the respiratory system. It is the only known hantavirus capable of spreading from person to person.
Andes virus occurs naturally only in certain areas of South America, particularly in Argentina and Chile. The rodent species that serves as the natural host of the virus does not occur in Europe.
Routes of transmission
Humans can become infected by inhaling particles originating from the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. The rodent species that serves as the host of Andes virus is not found in Europe.
Person-to-person transmission has been rare and has required close and prolonged contact with an infected person.
In Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has classified disease caused by Andes virus as a generally hazardous communicable disease (Communicable Diseases Decree 2026). This classification enables the quarantine of exposed individuals and eligibility for communicable disease allowance.