In an interview yesterday on Sputnik, Dr. Mahmoud Halablab, RHU Provost and Professor of Microbiology, discussed the recent hantavirus case reported on a cruise ship.
In the interview, he explained that hantavirus, first identified in 1978 in South Korea, is primarily transmitted through rodents such as rats and mice, and that cases remain relatively limited worldwide. Depending on the strain, the virus may cause respiratory complications or more severe symptoms such as kidney failure and bleeding disorders.
Dr. Halablab also noted that the virus can survive outside its host for extended periods, highlighting the importance of hygiene and environmental control. He emphasized that, while no specific treatment is currently available, global health authorities are closely monitoring developments and studying the virus’s genetic makeup to track potential mutations.
Listen to the interview here.