Abstract
In May 2026, a cluster of laboratory-confirmed Andes virus (ANDV) infections was reported among passengers aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship that originated in Argentina and sailed through the South Atlantic. The exposed population included individuals from 23 countries and resulted in at least 13 cases, including three deaths, representing the first ANDV outbreak with a multi-continental range and providing further evidence consistent with human-to-human transmission of ANDV. There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for ANDV, necessitating rapid development of drug and prophylactic pipelines. The outbreak highlighted the strengths and inherent weaknesses of our existing public health preparedness infrastructure in response to emerging infectious diseases. In this Pearl, we highlight the epidemiology, molecular virology, evolution, virus-host interactions, clinical management, therapeutic development, and public health response to ANDV. We emphasize the need to expand genomic surveillance, standardize diagnostic protocols across public health laboratories, and accelerate the clinical translation of promising antiviral candidates to strengthen pandemic preparedness infrastructure for understudied and emerging infectious diseases.
Source: Plos Pathogens, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1014756
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