Person-to-person household and nosocomial transmission of andes hantavirus, Southern Chile, 2011.

ABSTRACT: Andes hantavirus (ANDV) causes hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in Chile and is the only hantavirus for which person-to-person transmission has been proven. We describe an outbreak of 5 human cases of ANDV infection in which symptoms developed in 2 household contacts and 2 health care workers after exposure to the index case-patient. Results of an epidemiologic investigation and sequence analysis of the virus isolates support person-to-person transmission of ANDV for the 4 secondary case-patients, including nosocomial transmission for the 2 health care workers. Health care personnel who have direct contact with ANDV case-patients or their body fluids should take precautions to prevent transmission of the virus. In addition, because the incubation period of ANDV after environmental expos

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Valdebenito C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4193174 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature