Study Maps Andes Virus Genetic Diversity Across Chile
A genomic study of the Andes virus in Chile has identified two distinct geographical lineages of the virus. The research found no specific genetic markers linked to disease severity, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance of this human-transmissible hantavirus.
Why it matters
Understanding the genetic diversity of the Andes virus is critical for public health efforts to track and manage hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome outbreaks.
The first nationwide genomic analysis of human-derived Andes virus (ANDV) in Chile has revealed two geographically distinct viral lineages while finding no consistent genetic signatures associated with severe disease or person-to-person transmission. The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas , provide new insights into the evolution and spread of the virus and highlight the importance of continued genomic surveillance.
ANDV is unique among hantaviruses because it is the only known species capable of transmitting between humans. It causes hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a severe disease characterised by rapid respiratory failure and high mortality. Although Chile reports cases annually, the virus’s genetic diversity has remained poorly understood.
Researchers conducted a retrospective genomic epidemiology study using clinical samples collected from patients with confirmed ANDV infection between 2011 and 2024.
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