Hantavirus RNA Present in Human Sperm Nearly Six Years Post-Recovery, Study Reveals

Long-Term Persistence of Hantavirus in Human Semen Raises Concerns Over Sexual Transmission

A recent peer-reviewed study conducted by scientists at Switzerland's Spiez Laboratory has sparked renewed debate among health experts over the possibility of sexual transmission of the Andes strain of hantavirus long after symptoms have disappeared. The findings, published in the journal "Viruses", suggest that the virus may remain in human semen for nearly six years after recovery.

Researchers monitored a 55-year-old man who contracted Andes hantavirus during travel in South America in 2016. While the virus disappeared from his blood, urine, and respiratory samples within months, traces of viral RNA were still detected in semen samples 71 months later. The study indicates that the testes can act as a protected area where some viruses survive even after the body clears the infection elsewhere.

The Andes strain is considered one of the deadliest forms of hantavirus and is mainly found in parts of Chile and Argentina. Hantaviruses are usually spread through exposure to infected rodent urine, saliva, or droppings. Symptoms can begin like flu but may quickly develop into severe breathing problems and organ failure. According to previous studies, the fatality rate for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome can reach up to 40 percent in some outbreaks.

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Researchers stressed that no confirmed case of sexual transmission of Andes hantavirus has yet been recorded. They also noted that the study involved only one patient, meaning more research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. Scientists were unable to isolate live virus from the semen samples, though the continued presence of viral genetic material suggests the virus may persist in the male reproductive tract for years.

Health experts have compared the findings with Ebola and Zika viruses, both known to remain in semen after recovery. During the 2021 Ebola outbreak in Guinea, investigators linked new infections to sexual transmission from a survivor years after the original epidemic ended. Public health analysts say the latest evidence may lead to updated advice for male survivors, including condom use and regular testing for longer periods after recovery.

The study highlights the need for closer study of how viruses can hide in immune-protected parts of the body, even after patients appear fully recovered. Scientists emphasize the importance of further research to better understand the long-term persistence of hantavirus in human semen and its potential implications for public health.

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