Hantavirus Case in Switzerland
How our Clinic Director Prof. Dr. Jan Fehr assesses the situation
There are currently reports of a confirmed hantavirus case in Switzerland linked to hantavirus cases on a cruise ship. The focus is particularly on the so-called Andes virus. Unlike the hantaviruses known in Europe, this virus can, in rare cases, be transmitted from person to person.
Prof. Dr. Jan Fehr, Clinic Director of the Travel Clinic UZH, provides an assessment of the situation:
Hantavirus infections associated with travel are rare in travel medicine. However, hantaviruses are also known to occur in Europe. In Europe, transmission usually occurs via rodents and not directly from person to person, as may be the case with the Andes virus. The hantaviruses found in Europe often cause significantly milder disease than infections caused by the Andes virus, which can severely affect the lungs. In Europe, hantavirus infections may even be completely asymptomatic.
The Andes virus currently being discussed is different: in rare cases, it can be transmitted from person to person through close and prolonged contact and can cause severe illness involving the lungs.
What does this mean for the general population?
The risk for the general population remains low. A brief encounter in a public space, for example on the street or on a tram, is not considered a typical transmission situation. Close contact and prolonged exposure to an infected person are the decisive factors.
According to Prof. Dr. Jan Fehr, a pandemic situation comparable to SARS-CoV-2 is currently not the main concern at all. The situation is very different from what it was at the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020. Nevertheless, it is important to take the disease seriously in individual cases and to seek medical advice if relevant symptoms occur after travel, as well as to protect others from possible transmission.
What should returning travelers watch out for?
Anyone who develops fever or flu-like symptoms after travel, especially after a stay in tropical or subtropical regions, should seek medical advice. Symptoms may include headache, aching limbs, nausea or a pronounced feeling of illness.
Importantly, hantavirus is not the only concern: fever after travel must also be assessed promptly for other diseases such as malaria or bacterial infections.
Our conclusion
There is currently no reason for panic among the general population. However, returning travelers should take fever and flu-like symptoms after travel seriously and have them medically assessed by infectious disease specialists or experts in tropical and travel medicine — especially after stays in regions where certain infectious diseases may occur.
If you experience symptoms after traveling, we will be happy to advise you in our consultation for returned travelers. Find out more here!
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Infobox
Hantaviruses are viruses found worldwide in small rodents such as mice and rats. Infected animals shed the virus through saliva, urine and faeces. Humans can become infected through bites, direct contact with rodents or their excretions, or by inhaling contaminated dust.
In many cases, a hantavirus infection goes unnoticed. When symptoms occur, they usually begin suddenly with high fever and flu-like symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain and muscle pain. Depending on the virus type, the disease can vary in severity and may affect the kidneys or the lungs, among other organs.
There is no approved vaccine against hantaviruses. The most important protective measure is to avoid contact with rodents and their excretions. According to the Federal Office of Public Health, Switzerland is hardly affected; in Europe, most cases are reported from countries including Germany, Finland, Austria and Slovenia.
Source: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH): Hantavirus infections. Accessed on 11 May 2026. https://www.bag.admin.ch/de/hantavirus-infektionen
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