Andes Virus

Andes Virus (ANDV), a type of orthohantavirus, belongs to the family Hantaviridae which consists of 5 genera: bunyavirus, phlebovirus, nairovirus, tospovirus, and hantavirus. This virus was first found in rodent at Andes mountains of Chile and Argentina. ANDV infection is a leading cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome/failure (HFRS). ANDV maintains persistent apathogenic infections in rodents and is easily transmitted to humans mainly through inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta or rodent bites, leading to the occurrence of ANDV-infected diseases. Besides, ANDV is the only hantavirus that is capable of person-to-person transmission.